Somalia

A Horn of Africa nation with a deep camel-herding heritage, Somalia is renowned for an oral poetry culture once called 'a nation of poets'.

Language & oral Nature & herbalism Crafts Music & dance Food & cooking

Knowledge in this place

Gabay poetry

Gabay poetry

Highly structured oral poems used for politics, courtship and recording history.

Language & oral

Camel husbandry

Camel husbandry

Pastoralists raise camels for milk, transport and wealth across arid rangelands.

Nature & herbalism

Wedding henna

Wedding henna

Intricate henna patterns are applied to brides' hands and feet before weddings.

Dhaanto dance

Dhaanto dance

A rhythmic sung dance with origins in pastoral life, now a popular folk genre.

Bariis iskukaris

Bariis iskukaris

A fragrant spiced rice with meat, reflecting Indian Ocean trade in cardamom and cumin.