Somali studies

Last updated

Somali studies is the scholarly term for research concerning Somalis and Greater Somalia. It consists of several disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, linguistics, historiography and archaeology. [1] The field draws from old Somali chronicles, records and oral literature, in addition to written accounts and traditions about Somalis from explorers and geographers in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East. The Somali Studies International Association is the primary organization for Somalist scholars. Bildhaan, Somali Studies, Horn of Africa and the Anglo-Somali Society Journal likewise serve as the field's main periodicals. [2] Since 1980, prominent Somalist scholars from around the world have also gathered annually to hold the International Congress of Somali Studies.

Contents

History

The academic platform that would become Somali studies has its formal origins with religious, linguistic and historical research done by 18th and 19th century Somali scholars, such as Uways al-Barawi and Shaykh Aidarus. However, Somalis since antiquity have exchanged ideas with polities in North Africa, West Asia, South Asia and as far as East Asia. Through early 20th century scholars like Osman Yusuf Kenadid and the polymath Musa Haji Ismail Galal, other disciplines such as anthropology, sociology and archaeology would eventually form part of Somali studies.

Kenadid published many works on various subjects related to Somali history and science, including textbooks on the Somali language, astronomy, geography and Somali philosophy. He borrowed significantly from the vast ancient Somali cultural repository, working towards a renaissance of this rich past. [3] Galal later documented the Somali astrological, meteorological and calendrical systems. He devoted two major works to traditional Somali science, The terminology and practice of Somali weather lore, astronomy, and astrology (1968) and Stars, seasons and weather in Somali pastoral traditions (1970), both of which are regarded as classics in Somali studies.

Fields of study

Archaeology

Sada Mire Somali Archaeologist Sada mire.jpg
Sada Mire Somali Archaeologist
Musa Haji Ismail Galal was a Somali writer, scholar, linguist, historian and polymath. He is notable for being chairman of the Somali Language Committee. Musa Galal.png
Musa Haji Ismail Galal was a Somali writer, scholar, linguist, historian and polymath. He is notable for being chairman of the Somali Language Committee.

One of the earliest examples of archaeology in Somalia can be traced back to the 19th century when George Revoil a French explorer excavated several ancient sites in northern Somalia where he found large quantities of glass and pottery, including Roman pottery. [4] After independence, Somali government officials in collaboration with Soviet and British archaeologists began excavating various parts of Somalia during the 1970s. [5] [6] In late 1975, Neville Chittick led a British-Somali archaeological expedition in the northern half of Somalia. Financed by the Somali authorities, the reconnaissance mission found numerous examples of historical artefacts and structures, including ancient coins, pottery, drystone buildings, cairns, mosques, walled enclosures, standing stones and platform monuments. Many of the finds were of pre-Islamic origin and associated with ancient settlements described by the 1st century Periplus of the Erythraean Sea , among other documents. [7]

Anthropology

Somali anthropology studies the way of life of the Somali people. Somalist anthropologists have in various books and papers documented traditional Somali social systems such as the ancient Xeer (customary law) and the clan system, and examined their role within Somali society. In the field of Somali Islamic studies, scholars like Ioan Lewis, Said Sheikh Samatar and Lee V. Cassanelli have written on the traditional Muslim structure of Somali society in books such as A Pastoral Democracy: A Study of Pastoralism and Politics Among the Northern Somali of the Horn of Africa (1961), Oral poetry and Somali nationalism: the case of Sayyid Mahammad 'Abdille Hasan (1982) and The Shaping of Somali Society: Reconstructing the History of a Pastoral People, 1600 to 1900 (1982). [8] Enrico Cerulli and Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi in their respective works Somalia: scritti vari editi ed inediti (1957) and Culture and Customs of Somalia (2001) have also summarized the origins and ethnogenesis of the Somali people.

Linguistics

In terms of linguistics, Somali studies examines the inter-relationships between the Somali language and other related Afro-Asiatic languages. Somali is by far the best documented language from the Cushitic branch of Afro-Asiatic, [9] with academic studies of it dating from before 1900. [10] Linguists such as Bogumil Witalis Andrzejewski, Giorgio Banti, Annarita Puglielli, Cabdalla Cumar Mansuur, Mohamed Haji Rabi, Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi and Martin Orwin are considered among the foremost scholars on the study of the Somali language [11] [12] and the relation it has to the tongues spoken by related neighboring ethnic groups, such as the Afars, Oromos and Bejas. Mustafa Abdullahi Feiruz also focuses on the standardization of written Somali, and Somali language's links with Arabic. [13] [14]

Organizations

Somali studies scholar Cawo Mohamed Abdi. Cawoabdi1.jpg
Somali studies scholar Cawo Mohamed Abdi.

The primary organization overseeing the field is the Somali Studies International Association. [15] [16]

Journals

Peer-reviewed

Other

Conferences

Since its inaugural gathering in Mogadishu between July 6-13th, 1980, the International Congress of Somali Studies has been held to discuss developments in the field. [15] The 10th Congress was held in Djibouti City in December 2007. The triennial Somali Studies Conference also brings together some scholars and specialists in Somali studies. As of 2021, Jigjiga has hosted the 14th InternationalCongress of Somali Studies. [17]

Award ceremonies

Since the early 1970s, the Academy of Somali Studies began to hold professional award-winning poetry competitions after having been inspired by the traditional poetry competitions annually held throughout Somalia. The Somali Studies Association recognizes Somali scholars whose work concerning Somali studies stands out with the Musa Galaal award, a prize named after the Somali polymath Musa Haji Ismail Galal. In 1994, Charles L. Geshekter, Professor of History at California State University, Chico, created an endowment for this award. Geshekter's mother and Musa Galaal (1914–1980) were friends. A financial prize is also awarded annually.

Prominent Somalist scholars

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Somali Studies, by Lidwien Kapteijns, 1994 pg 581 - The Journal of African History, Vol. 35, No. 3
  2. ↑ "Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies | Institute for Global Citizenship | Macalester College". digitalcommons.macalester.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  3. ↑ Wasaaradda Warfaafinta iyo Hanuuninta Dadweynaha (1974). The Writing of the Somali Language. Ministry of Information and National Guidance. p. 5.
  4. ↑ Arab seafaring in the Indian Ocean in ancient and early medieval times By George Fadlo Hourani pg 138
  5. ↑ Africa in Soviet studies - Page 280
  6. ↑ Azania Volumes XI by British Institute in Eastern Africa - History - 1975 Page 117
  7. ↑ Chittick, Neville (1975). An Archaeological Reconnaissance of the Horn: The British-Somali Expedition. pp. 117–133.
  8. ↑ (Review) Oral poetry and Somali nationalism: the case of Sayyid Mahammad 'Abdille Hasan (1982) by John William Johnson pg 601 - Research in African Literatures, 1984
  9. ↑ Appleyard, D. L. (1986). "Agaw, Cushitic and Afroasiatic: The Personal Pronoun Revisited". Journal of Semitic Studies. 31 (2): 195–236. doi:10.1093/jss/XXXI.2.195.
  10. ↑ Lecarme, Jacqueline; Maury, Carole (1987). "A software tool for research in linguistics and lexicography: Application to Somali". Computers and Translation. 2 (1): 21–36. doi:10.1007/BF01540131. S2CID   6515240.
  11. ↑ "The Traveller to Legendary Lands WardheerNews interview with Shiela Andrzejewski". Archived from the original on 2010-01-19. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  12. ↑ The Internet Medium and Poetry Transmission by Abdisalam M. Issa-Salwe
  13. ↑ Afmaal: Proceedings of the conference on the 40th anniversary of Somali Orthography. Djibouti, 17–21 December 2012; (ed) A M Ismail, A O Mansur< Synab A. – page 49-60
  14. ↑ Somali Studies International Congress - Djibouti- Phase II - December 13th, 14th, 15th 2007 [ permanent dead link ]
  15. 1 2 Somali Studies International Association, Proceedings of the 1st International Congress of Somali Studies: held in Mogadishu, Somalia, 6–13 July 1980 : papers received, 20 January 1982, (Scholars Press: 1992)
  16. ↑ Article about SSIA
  17. ↑ "Somali Studies International Congress – 14th Congress hosted by Jigjiga University – April 2021" . Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  18. ↑ Hirsch, John (22 October 2012). "Interview with Professor Ken Menkhaus, Specialist on Somalia and the Horn of Africa". International Peace Institute. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  19. ↑ Woolf, Christopher (23 September 2013). "Nairobi Attack a Sign of 'Desperation' for al-Shabab, says Expert". Public Radio International. Retrieved 19 May 2015.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somali music</span> Music and musical traditions of Somalis

The Music of the Somali people is music following the musical styles, techniques and sounds of the Somali people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Somalia</span> Overview of the culture of Somalia

The culture of Somalia is an amalgamation of traditions in that were developed independently since the Proto-Somali era. The hypernym of the term Somali from a geopolitical sense is Horner and from an ethnic sense, it is Cushite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Majeerteen</span> Somali clan

The Majeerteen is a prominent Somali sub-clan of the Harti, which falls under the Darod clan. Traditionally, they inhabit extensive territories in the Bari, Nugaal, and Mudug regions of Somalia, spanning from Bosaso to Garacad, mainly in Puntland state. Additionally, Majeerteen populations are present in southern towns such as Kismayo.

The Arap or Arab clan is a major Northern Somali clan of the wider Isaaq clan family. The Arap predominantly live on the middle and southwest side of Hargeisa and in the Baligubadle district Hawd region) of Somaliland, with its capital Baligubadle being an exclusively Arap territory. The territory of the clan extends to Ethiopia, in the area of Faafan, gursum, dhagahle. The Abdalle Arab, a sub-clan of the Arap clan is based in the Togdheer, Sahil. The Celi Arab, a sub-clan of the Arap clan is based in Maroodi Jeex Hargeisa Muuse celi arab living also Bakool South West State of Somalia Rabdhure Elbarde, They also live Fafan Zone Gursum, Somali.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaaq</span> Somali clan family

The Isaaq is a major Somali clan family. It is one of the largest Somali clan families in the Horn of Africa, with a large and densely populated traditional territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osmanya alphabet</span> Alphabet created in the 1920s for Somali

The Osmanya alphabet, also known as Far Soomaali and, in Arabic, as al-kitābah al-ʿuthmānīyah, is an alphabetic script created to transcribe the Somali language. It was invented by Osman Yusuf Kenadid, the son of Sultan Yusuf Ali Kenadid and brother of Sultan Ali Yusuf Kenadid of the Sultanate of Hobyo.

Waaq is the name for the sky God in several Cushitic languages, including the Oromo language and Somali language.

The Dir is one of the largest and most prominent Somali clans in the Horn of Africa. They are also considered to be the oldest Somali stock to have inhabited the region. Its members inhabit Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, and northeastern Kenya.

Said Sheikh Samatar was a prominent Somali scholar and writer.

Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi is a Somali-Canadian scholar, linguist, writer, translator and professor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harti</span> Sub-clan of the Somali Darod clan

Harti, meaning "strong man", is a Somali clan family that is the part of the Darod clan. The major sub-clans include the Majeerteen, Warsangeli, Dishiishe, Dhulbahante and while other minor sub-clans consist of Kaskiqabe, Geesaguule and Liibaangashe.

The Habr Awal, also contemporarily known as the Subeer Awal, and alternately romanized as the Zubeyr Awal is a major Northern Somali clan of the wider Isaaq clan family, and is further divided into eight sub-clans of whom the two largest and most prominent are the Issa Musa and Sa'ad Musa sub-clans. Its members form a part of the Habar Magadle confederation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somali Latin alphabet</span> Official Somali writing system

The Somali Latin alphabet is an official writing system in the Federal Republic of Somalia and its constituent Federal Member States. It was developed by a number of leading scholars of Somali, including Musa Haji Ismail Galal, B. W. Andrzejewski and Shire Jama Ahmed specifically for transcribing the Somali language, and is based on the Latin script. The Somali Latin alphabet uses all letters of the English Latin alphabet with the exception of p, v and z. There are no diacritics or other special characters, although it includes three consonant digraphs: DH, KH and SH. Tone is not marked and a word-initial glottal stop is also not shown. Capital letters are used for names and at the beginning of a sentence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmed Ismail Samatar</span>

Ahmed Ismail Samatar is a Somali writer, professor and former dean of the Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester College. He is the editor of Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies, and brother of Abdi Ismail Samatar, chair of the geography department at the University of Minnesota. Samatar joined the Peace, Unity, and Development Party, the ruling party of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in June 2016. Samatar is being widely touted as a possible candidate for Somaliland's 2022 presidential elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somali alphabets</span> Writing systems for the Somali language

A number of writing systems have been used to transcribe the Somali language. Of these, the Somali Latin alphabet is the most widely used. It has been the official writing script in Somalia since the Supreme Revolutionary Council formally introduced it in October 1972, and was disseminated through a nationwide rural literacy campaign. Prior to the twentieth century, the Arabic script was used for writing Somali. An extensive literary and administrative corpus exists in Arabic script. It was the main script historically used by the various Somali sultans to keep records. Writing systems developed locally in the twentieth century include the Osmanya, Borama and Kaddare scripts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdi Ismail Samatar</span>

Abdi Ismail Samatar is a Somali scholar, writer and professor of geography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Musa Haji Ismail Galal</span> Somali polymath (1917–1980)

Musa Haji Ismail Galal (1917–1980) was a Somali writer, scholar, linguist, historian and polymath. He is notable for playing a key role in the development of Somali Latin alphabet and the creation of Galaal script, a controversial standardized Somali Arabic script which is the only instance where new letters were introduced to an Arabic script with no relation to any of the existing letters.

References

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.