Legendary poet and songwriter Mohamed Hadraawi dies

GOOBJOOG NEWS|HARGEISA: Legendary Somali poet and songwriter Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame Hadraawi whose profound works aptly captured the essence of Somali culture, politics and way of life and enriched centuries-old oral Somali tradition has died. He was 79.

Family and authorities confirmed Hadraawi’s death in Hargeisa after intermittent illnesses in the recent past. Somali leaders across the divide and the public have condoled the passing of one of the country’s finest artists dubbed the ‘Shakespeare’ of Somalia.

Hadraawi rose to become the foremost poet and songwriter penning more than 70 lyric songs and over 200 poems which have been widely translated into many languages. His works toyed with love, life, culture and political rebellion among a range of other subjects.

His journey to literary stardom started way back in Aden, Yemen where he moved to at the age of nine to live with his uncle. There, he earned the pseudonym Aba Hadra (Hadraawi) translated to ‘father/master of speech’ which has since become the signature name for his works. Hadraawi was born in Burco, Togdheer region of Somaliland in 1943.

Upon return to Mogadishu following Somalia’s attainment of independence in 1961, Hadraawi joined Radio Mogadishu before enrolment at Lafoole Campus of the Somali National University. He subsequently taught at Lafoole campus before joining the government.

Shortly after the military junta took power, Hadraawi’s poetry of rebellion took the centre stage leading him into a collision with the Siad Barre regime. His song, Siinley and the play Tawaawac both of which were critical of the military regime saw him earn a place behind bars in Qansa Dheree between 1973 and 1973.

Hadraawi went ahead to write several other poems in years to come. In his poem Sirta Nolosha (The Essence of Life), Hadraawi advises on brevity thus: Three words suffice don’t stretch things to thirty.

He was awarded the Prince Claud Award in 2012 for his contribution to peace through poetry.