SOUTH AFRICA: THE FOOD

Thanksgiving is out of the way, and now I’m just trying to make it through the Christmas season. It’s admittedly not my favorite season, but at least there are cookies and peppermint mocha drinks to get me through it. But I did make time to cook food from South Africa this afternoon. And that makes me happy.

You really can't go wrong with this. It went well with everything.

The first thing I made was Mealie Bread. In a bowl, I added in ½ c milk, 2 eggs, and ¼ butter (melted) and stirred. Then I put 1c of frozen corn (thawed) in my coffee grinder to make into a paste and added it into my bowl with the milk. (You can actually throw your milk, eggs, butter, and corn into a blender and puree it, but mine burned up back in the summer, and I never bought a new one. So this is my makeshift way to do it.) When I added my corn to the milk mix, I used my hand mixer to blend everything together. Then I added in 1c flour, ½ c cornmeal, 2 Tbsp sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp paprika and mixed it again with the hand mixer. Once I got it to a smooth consistency, I added in another cup of corn and blended it again with the mixer. Using an oiled loaf pan, I poured the batter into it and baked this in a 350ºF oven for 50-55 minutes. I kind of liked this, but I’m also a fan of this kind of cornbread. I think the kids were kind of leery about the bits of corn in it, but it was something different for them.

It was amazing. Nothing more to say.

The main dish today is called Oxtail Potjie (pronounced something like “poi-kee” or “poi-kuh” from what I’ve heard, and totally not what it looks like it should say). This is the first time I’ve ever eaten oxtail, much less cooked with them. I started off with preparing the meat: in a gallon-size plastic bag, I put in my flour, some salt, paprika, coriander, and some black pepper and then threw in my oxtail pieces, shaking it to coat. In the bottom of my large pot, I added a few Tbsp of olive oil and browned some onion and garlic before adding in my oxtail pieces, keeping the rest of the flour for later. Once the meat was browned, I added in the red wine (I’ve learned after all these years to go with half of whatever the recipe suggests when it comes to cooking with wine), the herbs (I used bouquet garni), and half of the beef stock (about 2c). I set this on low heat and let it simmer for three hours (checking on the levels of the liquids, adding stock as necessary). However, after two hours, I added in the veggies (some carrots, diced butternut squash, a little bit of potato, and cherry tomatoes) along with a tad more stock and let it cook for another hour. I added in a little bit more flour to help thicken the sauce a bit. Just before I served this, I sprinkled a little chopped parsley and chives on top and served this with some white rice. I did take the oxtail out and try to cut off as much of the meat as I could. I thought this was fantastic, and it made my kitchen smell wonderful all afternoon. The kids weren’t wild about it, probably because any stew that uses wine is a little more of a sophisticated taste. But it was perfect for this cold December day.

I'm definitely marking this recipe as one to repeat.

To go with this, I made Avocado and Red Bean Salad. I used a base of artisan lettuce (no romaine, mind you), but you can really use any kind of mixed greens salad base or whatever’s in season. I topped my salad with light red kidney beans, feta cheese, avocado, and cracked black pepper. Then I cut my cucumber slices into sticks and added it to the salad, sprinkling a little lemon juice on top of the salad (mostly to keep the avocado from turning brown). Then I made the dressing: a little balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, and a little salt and pepper. I poured the dressing on top just before serving. Now, this was the real winner of the meal. Everyone loved this. And it was very simple to make, so if you’re looking for an easy side to add to your meal, this is it.

Surprise of the evening. I was amazed this turned out so well.

As a quick dessert afterwards, I made Caramelized Pineapple. I combined some powdered sugar with some lime zest in a bowl. I dipped some pineapple rings into the sugar-lime mix and just used a small skillet to fry them. I was going to use my George Foreman grill to “grill” them, but I was afraid the melted/burnt sugar would be nearly impossible to clean up. Then I placed them on a plate and put a scoop or two of chocolate ice cream on top on them. This was amazing. I had no idea that the combination of pineapple, lime, and chocolate would be so good, but it was. Why were the South Africans keeping this a secret?

I loved everything about this meal. It was all fantastic!

Last week, one of my high school teachers passed away from cancer. I took four years of Japanese from her; I think she was one of the first seven or eight teachers in Indiana who became licensed to teach Japanese at the public high school level. Even though I have always had an interest in the world around me, I ended up immersing myself in the Japanese language. She even encouraged me to apply for a scholarship that ultimately paid for me to do a summer abroad program in Tokyo for 6 weeks in 1998. Years later, I realized we both had a love for Dostoyevsky and Russian literature. Even though she put up with my loud-mouthed shenanigan in class, she really did care about her students and took pride in watching us succeed as adults. Thanks for caring, Mrs. Kuchaes.

Up next: South Korea

SOUTH AFRICA: MUSIC AND DANCE

South Africa has a complex musical history, ranging from the traditions of its many different ethnic groups to its merge with various European styles. And in many cases, it includes the mixing old traditions with newer ones. The early music of South Africa did tend to take elements of African musical styles and merge it with various European (mostly English and Dutch) and Asian styles.

The period between the 1950s and the 1980s brought about a revival in traditions of African music. By this time, recording devices had become slightly more portable, and musicologists took a newfound interest in recording their songs as well as introducing other instruments they brought with them. For example, the Portuguese brought their guitars with them when they first encountered the Zulus in the 16th century, which they then adopted as part of their musical traditions. By the 1930s, you could find cheap guitars in shops. Of course, they adapted different techniques from other instruments to the guitar. Other modern instruments have replaced more traditional ones, like the Tsonga's use of xylophones and bass marimbas.

Dance traditions certainly vary by ethnic group and can also vary by the purpose of the dance. Rhythm is at the heart of their dances, and they’re often a reflection of their daily lives and emotions, and very often celebratory. However, most traditional dances are mostly just performed at weddings these days. One of the more well-known dances come from the Zulu traditions, called the Indlamu. This dance is performed by men dressed in full traditional attire, complete with spear and shield. Always gotta look the part.

Right around the turn of the 20th century, Johannesburg had a strict curfew, which impacted the nightlife. A style of music widely played in the speakeasies emerged called marabi, a type of jazz. This style mainly consisted of piano playing accompanied by a rudely made "maracas" (that were actually cans filled with pebbles and other items) and other instruments. The popularity of South Africa's music grew so rapidly between 1912-1930 that musicians began to record with Gallo Record Company, still the largest record company in the country.

The famous song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" made famous by The Tokens was actually written by Solomon Linda in 1939. The original lyrics were written in Zulu ("mbube" means lion). A capella choral societies also became a thing in the 1930s and 1940s. Afrikaans music was mainly based on traditional Dutch styles, but they also added in some elements of German, French, and even zydeco and country styles to their music. By the time the 1950s and 1960s came along, many of the popular styles of the US and Europe infiltrated the music scene in South Africa. Charles Segal was a white musician who studied and promoted indigenous African music during the 1950s, especially through radio. Genres like the kwela began to be spread to the masses. Segal was also a jazz pianist and saw the rise of jazz and soul into clubs and bars all over the major urban areas. The 1970s and 1980s brought about newer genres like rock, punk rock, disco, reggae, and other African fusions of these styles. More electronic sounds in techno, metal, kwaito, and hip-hop emerged in the 1990s and 2000s among other genres as well. There is a lot of experimentation and expression in their music as they merge musical styles from a number of cultures and make it theirs.

I came across a bunch of bands from South Africa, and I know I’m just scratching the surface with this entire post. First of all, I didn’t realize that the rock band Seether is from South Africa. I used to listen to them quite a bit. I forgot how much I liked them when I was listening to them this week.

And I’ll venture to say that Ladysmith Black Mambazo is probably one of the more well known musical groups from South Africa, rising to international fame after their collaboration with Paul Simon. Their rich a capella harmonies highlighted the choral traditions of South African music.  

And one of my favorites is Miriam Makeba. Her song “Pata Pata,” first recorded in 1967, essentially put her on the map. You can’t help but be happy when you hear this song. And she was still performing within a couple years of her death in 2008.

I sifted through quite a few other rock groups of various styles and fusions, from alternative to folk rock to blue rock. Some of the ones I listened through include Dog Detachment, Mahotella Queens, McCully Workshop, Tribe After Tribe, and Blues Broers. I also listened to a couple of Afrikaans Rock bands, Fokovpolisiekar (just sound that one out loud to yourself) and Karen Zoid.

I also found a reggae band called Lucky Dube that I sampled. I like African reggae music. While it obviously shares many similarities with its Caribbean counterpart, there are some minor things that make African reggae a little different. It’s subtle, and I also think that it really depends on the artist as well.

Up next: the food

SOUTH AFRICA: ART AND LITERATURE

As the Khoisan and San people moved into the southernmost parts of Africa where the Bantu and Nguni people came before them, they brought along their own art forms and culture. The earliest nomadic tribes left evidence of their existence through their rock paintings depicting their life and even their magical beliefs. The paints they used were created from local plants and other materials, giving them an array of reds, blacks, greys, whites, and yellows.

When the Europeans arrived in South Africa, they brought along their arts with them as well. Toward the end of the 19^th century, the first South African arts society was formed. Art galleries began popping up in the cities. Of course, many paintings and other works were of European origin in the beginning. However, it didn’t take long for South African artists (in the broad sense) to showcase their truly South African art.

In the indigenous communities, art remained a functional part of their society. Like many similar cultures, their folk art came in the forms of small sculptures, jewelry, pottery, baskets, and other handicrafts. However, most of what is made now is only to appease the tourist markets.

by George Pemba

During the 20^th century, South African artists began to take on subjects related to their national and ancestral identity, in contrast to the colonialism they just came out from under. Art was also used as a way of dealing with their socio-political problems, like apartheid. Some names to know are Moses Tladi (in 1938, he became the first black artist to formally exhibit his work), Qwabe brothers (known for their relief carvings), Hezekiel Ntuli (known for his sculptures, especially oxen, leopards, and portrait busts), Gerard Bengu (known for his realistic paintings of rural Bhaca life and landscapes), George Pemba (one of the pioneers of black artists, part of the “Thirties Generation,” won numerous awards for his work spanning seven decades), John Koenakeefe Mohl (painter, also started the first art school for black artists), Gladys Mgudlandlu (self-taught artist, first black woman to have her work displayed in a gallery), and Simon Lekgetho (known for his often haunting depictions of African life and cultural items).

by Gladys Mgudlandlu

It's great to live in a diverse area. It makes us all richer. However, when your country's borders were drawn by someone else, it can cause some cultural issues. South Africa has 11 official languages and a number of other locally spoken ones. Literature from this country can be found written in English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, Pedi, Sotho, Venda, Tswana, Tsonga, Ndebele, or SiSwati. However, these languages and cultures spread across borders, so someone can write in Tswana but not necessarily live in South Africa. Sometimes, it brings up questions of nationality versus culture.

Because English is often used as the lingua franca in South Africa and holds status as an international language, there is quite a bit of South African literature written in English. One of the first major works written in English from South Africa was The Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner, published in 1883. However, by far the most widely read South African work (in American classrooms, at least) is Alan Paton's Cry, The Beloved Country, published in 1948. Some English-language authors of note include Nadine Gordimer (anti-apartheid political activist, winner of the Booker Prize in 1974 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1991), J.M. Coetzee (won the Booker Prize in both 1983 and 1999 as well as the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003 and others), Miriam Tlali (first black woman to have a novel published, which was in 1975), and Zakes Mda (poet, playwright, novelist, won the Commonwealth Writers Prize in 2001 and is part of the school curriculum) among many others.

Afrikaans literature makes up another large portion of the literature from South Africa. The Afrikaans language is similar to Dutch but obviously has a lot of African and German words thrown in the mix. It's spoken throughout the land and also serves as a lingua franca among both whites and coloured South Africans. [In South Africa, coloured refers to mixed race people, not the archaic derogatory meaning it has in the US -- it still throws me off when I see it). One of the more prominent literary styles that was popular was the plaasroman, or farm novel; and likewise as urbanization became to take hold post-WWII, the dorpsroman, or town novel developed the same way. Some of the more well-known Afrikaans-language authors (and some also write in English as well) include Andre Brink, Eben Venter, Marlene van Niekerk, Lettie Viljoen, Breyten Breytenbach, and Etienne van Heerden. 

And now we come to African language literature. There is a difference in subject matter and perhaps tone between white and black South African authors. Racial differences sometimes set boundaries in literature. Many black authors write using the apartheid period as the backdrop and often write on their history, the consequences of colonialism, and other epidemics. And while the early part of the 20th century was clearly dominated by male writers, female authors began to emerge and get published during the latter half. And even at that, it was hard for female authors to gain notoriety because of the long-established patriarchy. Black South African authors are generally categorized by the language they write in: Zulu (BW Vilakazi, Mazisi Kunene, HIE Dhlomo, RRR Dhlomo), Xhosa (SEK Mqhayi, AC Jordan, Godfrey Mzamane), Sesotho (Thomas Mofolo), and Tswana (Sol Plaatje, LD Raditladi).

Up next: music and dance

SOUTH AFRICA: THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE

The terrors of apartheid. Nelson Mandela. Exotic animals on the veldt. Diamond mining and the De Beers company (don't get me started on them). Zulu warriors. South Africa may bring other things to mind, and there certainly are many things it’s known for. Many years ago, I read James Michener’s The Covenant, about the history of South Africa. Even though his books are a mix of fact in the midst of a fictional story, it really touched on a lot of history that I wasn’t fully aware of.

Obviously, the name South Africa is indicative of its location as the southernmost country on the African continent. However, there are a lot of people who call it by its nickname Mzansi, which comes from the Xhosa word meaning “south.”

It’s not hard to find South Africa. Find Africa, and look at the bottom. It’s surrounded by Namibia to the northwest, Botswana to the north, and Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Swaziland to the northeast. The country of Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa. It has a coastline along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Because the country is so far south, its climate is actually more temperate. It also has a wide variety of landscapes, which also affects its climate, ranging from deserts to mountainous to a type of open grasslands plain called the veldt (sometimes spelled veld, and also the title of a short story by Ray Bradbury). 

Evidence suggests that people have lived in the southern parts of Africa for nearly three million years, with modern humans living there for nearly 170,000 years. The earliest peoples include many different Bantu-speaking groups, mainly the Xhosa, Khoisan, and Zulu people. The Portuguese were the Europeans to land in this area of southern Africa during the late 1400s. The British and the Dutch were the next ones to show up during 1600s. The Dutch established a trading post for the Dutch East India Company during the mid-1600s around where the city of Cape Town would be. They brought along many of the people they formerly employed from southeast Asia and eastern Africa (known as the vrijburgers, but they also brought along slaves too), where they eventually came to be known as a new mixed race group called Cape Coloureds. The Dutch and vrijburgers who left the city to become farmers were known as Boers and clashed with the Xhosa tribes. These clashes were known as the Xhosa Wars. The British arrived and took control of Cape Town at the beginning of the 1800s, and the British began moving in droves starting in the 1820s. By the latter part of the 1800s, gold and diamonds were discovered hiding beneath the surface, and the British immediately pounced on the idea that they should control it. A couple wars broke out back-to-back over this and other issues: the first being between the British and the Zulus (the Zulus lost their independence as a result), followed by the British and the Boers (the Boers won the first one, and the British barely won the second one). (I don’t think the British realized no one really liked them being there all that much). Talk began during the beginning of the 20^th century of granting independence to this area. However, land ownership was severely limited for black Africans living here, with 93% of the land owned by those of European heritage. South Africa was finally granted independence in 1931, and a couple national parties were formed. After WWII, the National Party started pushing racial segregation policies and thus apartheid was introduced and implemented. It became a republic in 1961 and withdrew from the Commonwealth of Nations. Many nations around the world began to pressure South Africa about its racist policies and boycott the government. In 1990, Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years in prison for sedition and sabotage; he became the first black president of the country four years later. Even though South Africa has seen many changes for the better after the end of apartheid, they have also dealt with issues such as HIV/AIDS epidemics, housing and jobs shortages, immigration problems, and more recently, a water shortage.

South Africa is one of those few countries that has more than one capital city. In fact, it has three. Pretoria, located generally in the northeast corner of the country, is where the executive branch is run from. Blomfontein, in the center of the country, is where the judicial branch is. And the legislative branch is housed in coastal Cape Town. The largest city, however, is the city of Johannesburg, a suburb of Pretoria (or would it be the other way around?).
 

South Africa has the second largest economy in Africa, after Nigeria. Even at that, they still suffer from unemployment/underemployment, poverty, and income inequality. And for the most part, pay rates for black and coloured South Africans stayed stagnant even after apartheid ended. There really isn’t that much arable land for agriculture, so they depend on manufacturing/industry and international trade. Tourism and science/tech-based industries also remain high as economic drivers.

Because of South Africa’s ties with the Dutch and the British, Christianity is the largest religious following. And most people follow a number of Protestant denominations, although there is a smaller Catholic following, too. Surprisingly, there are quite a few people who don’t identify with any religion. Since there are quite a few people of Asian descent living in South Africa, there are also a number of Muslims and Hindus and other religions, including indigenous belief systems.

While it doesn’t have the most official languages, South Africa has declared 11 languages to hold an official status. English serves as a lingua franca in many areas and is the language of the government, education, commerce, and media. Its official languages are Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (related to Dutch), English, Northern Sotho, Tswana, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, Swazi, Venda, and Southern Ndebele. Some of the tribal languages of the indigenous people are in danger of dying out. A number of European languages and Indian languages are also spoken in South Africa.

South Africa is a country of great things. First of all, they have an 850km (528mi) long wine route. They were also the first African country to legalize same-sex marriage. And if you’re into cycling, they hold the world’s longest bike race. Oh, and if you’re a fan of shiny things, the 3106-carat Cullinan Diamond was found in 1905 (it was later broken up into over 100 different stones, part of which went into the British crown jewels). I could go on about other ways South Africa stands out in the world. All I know is that I’m really looking forward to my meal from this country.

Up next: art and literature

SOMALIA: THE FOOD

We made it through another election. There were some disappointments, but there were some surprises. Quite a few women, people of color, and LGBTQ candidates won their office – not to mention that Ilhan Omar became the first Somali-American to win a Congressional seat.

This will make a good breakfast tomorrow.

It seem fitting that it fell in line with cooking food from Somalia today. The first thing I made was Malawah, or a Somali crepes. In a bowl, I mixed all the ingredients together: 2 c flour, 2 ½ c milk, 2 eggs, 1 Tbsp sugar, ½ tsp cardamom, ½ tsp ginger, and a pinch of salt. Once everything was mixed together, I heated up my skillet and poured a little oil in it to heat. I ladled some batter onto the skillet and swirled the skillet to spread out the batter to thin it out. I apparently didn’t mix things well enough because my batter was still a little lumpy. Once it started to brown on one side, I flipped it to brown the other side. When they were all done, I served this with butter and honey on top. I thought these were fantastic. I was initially a little worried about the cardamom/ginger flavor being too much, but it was just right and blended well with the honey.

I was a little leery about crab and tomato together, but it was actually pretty good.

The main dish today is Somalian Crabmeat Stew. I started this with sautéing some diced onions, curry powder (I just used some leftover xawaash spice mix that I had prepared for the nafaqo below), ginger, salt, and crushed red pepper, letting this simmer for a few minutes before pouring in about 20 oz of diced tomatoes (I used the kind that had green chilies in it). Once that had cooked down for about 10 minutes, I added in my chunked crabmeat and let it cook down for another 10 minutes. I served this over rice. Even though I cut my spices down, it was still a little spicy because of the crushed red pepper. I thought it was excellent.

I love Scotch eggs, and this vegetarian version was fire!

To go with this, I made Nafaqo, a Somali vegetarian version of Scottish eggs. The first thing I did was peel some potatoes and boil them, mashing them slightly when they were cool. Then I added a little xawaash spice mix (a Somali blend of cumin, coriander, sage, black pepper, fenugreek, turmeric, ginger, cardamom, coves, nutmeg, cinnamon), black pepper, turmeric powder, and flour. I mixed everything together again so that it was well combined. In the meantime, I hardboiled 5 eggs and peeled them when they were cool. To put this together, I put a little flour in one hand, spread out some of the potato mix, placed a cooled and peeled egg on top and wrapped the potato around the egg. Then I rolled it in a little flour before frying it in vegetable oil until it turned golden brown. After they drained and cooled on paper towels, they were ready to eat. I really liked these, but my daughter had a differing opinion. I would definitely make these again.

Overall, this was amazing!

I thought this was a good meal. But my son would hardly touch it, and my daughter only ate half. I guess I’ll have some leftovers for tomorrow. For a country that has been in the news for a myriad of negative things, it’s good to read positive things from Somalia and Somalis around the world. True, there’s a lot of instability still, but as Fred Rogers said, “Always look for the helpers.”

 Up next: South Africa

SOMALIA: MUSIC AND DANCE

In most Western music traditions, they use a heptatonic scale. In other words, a seven-note scale. However, much of Somalian music is based on the five-note scale called the pentatonic scale (imagine just playing the black keys on a piano). I typically think of the pentatonic scale as sounding "Asian" since a few music traditions in Asia utilize it. However, there are many other musical traditions around the world that are based on the pentatonic scale as well. It shares many commonalities with the music of nearly areas like Ethiopia and Sudan and even the Arabian Peninsula.

Somali music also utilizes many similar instruments as well. First of all, they use quite a variety of percussion instruments from different kinds of drums (like mokhoddon, massondhe, jabbu, and yoome) as well as different clappers made from metal (shagal) or wood (shanbaal), rattles (shunuuf) and xylophones (tenegyo). There are stringed instruments like lyres (shareero), lutes (kinaandha, oud), a one-stringed violin (seese), and a thumb piano (similar to an mbira maybe?) called a madhuube. Also heard in Somali music are a variety of wind instruments such as double clarinets (sumaari), flutes (malkad, siinbaar), horns (gees-goodir), and trumpets (fuugwo).

There are many different kinds of traditional dances in Somalia, and many of them vary based on region. A good portion of these dances have a basis in mimicking everyday life for them, but there are also dances that encompass folklore and historic tales. One of the most widely known dances is the Dhaanto dance. This dance mimics the movements of the camel, but is also steeped in Islamic poetry. Originally, it was specifically a dance from the Darod tribe of the Ogaden clan; however, it was revived during the early part of the 20th century as a way to rally the soldiers. Other dances found in areas of Somalia include the Wilwile (a warrior dance of the Issa people), the Jaandheer (from the Isaac tribe of Somaliland and eastern Ethiopia), the Saylaci dance (a Suufi-inspired dance of the Samaroon/Gidabursi clan), and the Niiko dance (from the Hawiye people).

The origins of what we call popular music began to form during the 1930s, and within the next decade, lyrics based on the qaraami style of poetry popularized by Elmi Boodhari became the thing. In fact, it's still popular today. (Some things are timeless, right? I still listen to American music of the 1930s and 1940s.) Today many musicians and bands have mixed traditional styles with the modern styles of rock, pop, jazz, and even other world styles like reggae and bossa nova.

Aar Maanta

I found several artists on Spotify that I sampled. The first was Aar Maanta. I liked what I heard from him. It was kind of chill, with a reggae feel at times and uses strings and horns in much of his music. I’m not even sure what I’d call it, but I just know that I like it.

Yasminah was an R&B musician I listened to who’s actually a Somali-American. She kind of reminds me of Kenza Farah, except her songs are all in English (at least the ones I heard). I liked the few songs I listened to.

And then I listened to Dur-Dur Band. Very much of an older style that reminds me of an African blues style and funk at times. The instruments I noticed is their use prominent use of the bass guitar and the organ in the background. They even have a song called “Dab” which I showed my almost-10-year-old son who dabs All. The. Time.

K'naan

I finally listened to K’naan, a Somali-Canadian rapper. I loved it! I have heard of him but maybe only to the extent of seeing his name. He definitely uses a lot of African styles and themes mixed into his music. Many of his songs seem to use rock and funk and other styles as the basis underneath it all – kind of like what Bliss N Eso does.

Maryam Mursal

Another musician whose music seems to integrate some funk and folk rock influences here and there is Maryam Mursal. The vocal styles are still definitely steeped in African and Arabian techniques, but it’s interesting to listen to the merge of several cultures.

Waayaha Cusub

Finally, I listened to Waayaha Cusub. This group mixes Middle Eastern styles with some hip-hop. They do a good job at blending the rhythms of the vocal lines with the instrumental melodic lines. In listening to their music, they span from sounding like club mixes to more chill adult contemporary.

Up next: the food

SOMALIA: ART AND LITERATURE

The Somali people have been creating art since they arrived in the area. Evidence of rock art has been found in many areas, especially in the northern parts of Somalia. They were probably some of the few parents who encouraged drawing on the walls. Some of the best examples we have in not only Somalia, but in Africa on a whole is found at Laas Geel. These pre-historic drawing depict dog-like animals, giraffes, and cows (that were in ceremonial robes – must be very special cows!) alongside humans.

As Islam became more widespread, artistic subject matter changed with it. In Islam, it is strictly advised not to create art that depicts people or animals. I've never understood this, but I read that it may be tied to the creation of a human being, even if it's just a drawing. (But then, how do they explain actual birth?) The reasoning is lost on me, but it is what it is. So, many artists adapted and created their art in different ways. Islamic art tends to be more geometric and often in the form of tessellations.

 

One of the ways they did that was through metalwork. Gold and other metals have been used in jewelry making, which was also seen as a show of wealth and status. Intricately designed knives and daggers are also common among men. And at one time, Somalia was a leader in the textile industry. Mogadishu in particular was a central hub for textiles for nearly 700 years up through the late 19th century.

If you are a carver in Somalia, you are quite respected as an artist, even today. Wealthy families used to employ carvers who specialized in exotic woods and stones like marble to create elaborate homes worthy of being a museum. However, artisanal woodcarving is also a key occupation among nomadic tribes. A good carver created everyday objects like combs, spoons, and other utensils to more complicated structures like an aqal (a portable nomadic home). Today, they use modern equipment to help make the process go a little faster. (Ain't nobody got time to do that by hand.)

The ancient Somalis also built pyramids for burials in the same style as the Egyptians. Their homes were also built in the Egyptian style by building courtyards and stone walls around them. As Islam began to spread, its influences on architecture also took hold by its use of arches and geometric designs.

Somali-American painter Abdulasis "Aziz" Osman

And while painting and other art forms, like fashion design or photography, may not necessarily be pushed as an art form Somalia (depending on how conservative your area or family is, of course), Somalis living in diaspora around the world have embraced it as a way to express themselves, their culture, and dealing with events that led up to their leaving. Art students in the US (especially Minnesota), Canada, and many areas of Europe depict scenes of Somali life and history not only as a way of teaching others about Somali, but also as a way of teaching Somali children born here of their own history.

Tabayin al-Haqa'iq li Sharh Kanz al-Daqa'iq

Early Somalis not only fell in love with poetry but excelled at it to the level of them being regionally known for their poetry. Somalia is known for many of its examples of Islamic literature that began to flourish around the 14th century. Two works that are highly celebrated in the Islamic world is the Tabayin al-Haqa'iq li Sharh Kanz al-Daqa'iq, written by Uthman bin Ali Zayla'i during the 14th century and Muja'mut al-Mubaraka by Shaykh Abdullah al-Qalanqooli in 1918.

Muhammad Abdullah Hassan

However, not all poetry is strictly religious in nature. There are other poets who write about history, epic battles, love, and other themes. A couple of poets to know would be Muhammad Abdullah Hassan (known for his poem "Gaala Leged" ["Defeat of the Infidels"]) and Elmi Boodhari (known for his poem "Qaraami" ["Passion"]).

Somali literature wasn't just relegated to poetry. They did branch out. Different kinds of folktales were told to children growing up. These stories were passed down from generation to generation. Some stories were more like fables, designed to teach kids lessons about how to behave, through both negative and positive reinforcement. Some of the more common folktales include "A Lion's Tale" (two Somali immigrant children struggle to adapt to their new life), "Dhegdheer the Cannibal Woman" (told to children to convince them the importance of discipline), "Caraweelo" (used to teach young girls the "dangers" of being overly feminist), and "Coldiid the Wise Warrior" (a warrior who avoids all violence).

Today, there are many Somali writers, publishing works from Islamic/religious works to poetry to more secular novels. From the time the Somali language also adopted using a modified Latin script during the 1970s, many more Somali authors began being published on the international scene. One of the most well-known Somali authors is the award-winning Nuruddin Farah. He's known for his books From a Crooked Rib, Links, and Maps. Another novelist of note is Farah Mohamed Jama Awl, known for his novel Ignorance is the Enemy of Love. Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame "Hadrawi" is a poet often considered Somalia's answer to Shakespeare. Another award-winning Somali poet and novelist who lives in Italy (and is published in Italian) is Cristina Ali Farah. (Farah must be a common name in Somalia or something.)

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