By Abdi Ali
Published July 18, 2018
An 18-year-old girl has won the BBC News Somali Young Female Poet 2018 award.
Shugri Jama Ibrahim, a form three Student from Bosaaso, has won the award with a poem that explores traditional Somali culture and cultural utensils that were in use in nomadic life won the award. Ibrahim was the first runner up in the inaugural BBC News Somali Young Female Poet Award in 2017.
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BBC says Shugri Jama Ibrahim, together with Nimo Ahmed Tohyare from Hargeisa and Miski Warsame Nur from Garowe who took second and third places, respectively, shall receive their awards at a ceremony in Garowe on July 18 while the winning poem shall be broadcast by BBC News Somali.
This is the second year of the BBC News Somali Young Female Poet award which not only highlights the culture of poetry among Somali-speaking women but also provides them with an avenue to showcase their talent and creativity which is said to be widely acclaimed.
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The winner of the inaugural BBC News Somali Young Female Poet Award, Deeqa Nouh Yonis, who hails from Hargeisa, says she has become famous and that she continues to write poetry.
Here is the winning poem in Somali with English translation below it:
Dhaqan guuna hidde dheemanoo dhaxal awowgeena
Iyo agab dhamaysaan lahayn dhoofka ka horoowe
Dhiil culeyleh xeedhiyo fandhaal gaawe dhinacyaala
Dhoqol sebiga meel loo dhigiyo dhiisha buqulkeeda
Danbiil dhego leh saab dhebiya iyo doobi dhumuc wayn leh
Qarbad iyo wadaan dhogorlehoo awrta lagu dhaansho
Kabo saanta laga dheegayoo dheeliga aqoonin
Intasoon inagu dhabu lahayn layska wada dhaafye
Waxaa maanta weel laga dhigtaa koob dhegloo jaba e
Ka dhiidhiya hiddahan dheeliyoo dhawra agabkeena
Farsamooyinkii dhaadanaa dhayda ka cadeeeye
Dhaqan hodona baan leenehee dhabuga faalooda.
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The winning poem in English:
Ageless customs and cultural heritage of diamantine strength,
Of well finished tools, ours was, before the exodus:
A smoke-cleaned milk churn, wooden bowl and ladle beside a milk pot,
An urn for the child, the wooden churn and her fitting bung,
A basket with shanks, a case made from dhebi tree and a largish wooden mug,
A canvas bag, the bristly ewer used to fill up (the water pots for) the carrier stallions,
Shoes made of leather, with soles well-fitted to balance the stance:
All these: (products) of our traditional artistry – an industry nowadays so spurned.
So, agitate, o you all, for our lost deftness and refurbish your craft!
Dust off the neglected artifice let’s have it shine!
We are of a rich culture, so let’s (the woe and the way out it) discuss.
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