Mogdishu-KNN-Today sees the birth of a new cultural initiative in Somalia: the Home of Somali Poetry (Hoyga Maansada Soomaaliyeed), which brings together Somali poets and poetry enthusiasts to promote Somali poetry and use it to foster peace and human rights.
With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Home of Somali Poetry website (www.hoygamaansada.com) hosts a growing Somali Poetry Archive, which preserves the classics and showcases new work from a fresh generation of poets, as well as an online magazine for poetry-related articles, interviews with poets, live performances, learning resources and more.
Starting this year, the Home of Somali Poetry initiative will run the annual Somali Poetry Awards – an “Oscars” of Somali poetry to recognise the very best creative talent across three categories: Poet of the Year, Woman Poet of the Year (sponsored by UNDP) and Youth Poet of the Year. The Awards open for entries through the Home of Somali Poetry website on 21 September and this year’s judges are leading and upcoming poets including Ahmed F. Ali (Idaajaa), Osman Abdullahi Guure, Mohamud Haji Mohamed (Tarash), Asha Mohamud Yusuf (Asha-luul) and Hawa Jama Abdi.
