By Rhoda A. Rageh

There was the cheering of young upcoming poets who have found courage to stand on the wings of other poets

A week long Somali festival took place at Oxford House in East London in commemoration of the Black History Month. The festival which brought together some of the best Somali poets and the young Somalis in the Diaspora was facilitated by the patient Martin Orwin, a professor of Linguistics at SOAS who has not only published works by one of the poets into a book but who has translated some of the poetry into English thus helped the young Somalis in Britain appreciate their culture for the first time. Dr Orwin sat patiently in all events, sometimes as the only foreigner present to allow the young Somalis in the Diaspora enjoy and appreciate the beauty of their culture.

His interest in Somali poetry was truly the highlight of the festival in more ways than one. He has not only facilitated the interaction between several generations of Somalis but he has given hope to the poets whose works have been, until now, kept fragmentary in tapes. He has already published a book of poetry by Garriye, and while translating that and Hadraawi’s into English is also collecting the works of Hassan Ganay and Abdi Qeys. If he succeeds, the poetry of Hassan Ganay and Abdi Qeys (two well loved Somali poets) will be committed into print for the first time. That their works will be universalized by Dr. Orwin’s translation has allowed these prominent poets relish the opportunity of encountering more audience than Somalis alone.

As one of the poets said, ‘he was born Somali but speaks the universal language of poetry admired by humanity therefore he is a citizen of the world.’ Besides poetry there were plays based on modern issues, and Somali melodies sung by much loved Somali singers.

There was the cheering of young upcoming poets who have found courage to stand on the wings of other poets. Discussions were held on the role of poetry in building identity. As Hadrawi reminded the audience ‘ Somalia is known as the ‘Nation of Poets’ and in the Somali culture serious interaction takes place inside poetry. Therefore to preserve it is to keep identity alive.