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Orwin, Martin (2019) 'Arabic influence on metre in Somali Sufi religious poetry.' Brill's Journal of Afroasiatic Languages and Linguistics, 11 (2). pp. 340-374.

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Abstract

It has generally been assumed that there has not been any direct influence on Somali poetic metre from the metrical forms of Arabic. For the most part, this certainly seems to hold, but this article presents a poem which is of a type on which, it is argued, Arabic influence can be seen. The poem, ‘Taaj Awliyo’ by Sheekh Caaqib Cabdullaahi Jaamac (1920-?) is presented in detail and, although it has been described as being in the jiifto metre, it is demonstrated that this description of the metre is incorrect. It actually follows a previously undocumented metrical pattern which is the equivalent of four maqalaay warlaay lines. The article also shows how the metrical pattern can be seen as a Somalized analogue of the Arabic k¯amil metre in its majz¯u’ or dimetric form. Evidence is given both from comparison of the line structure itself and from brief comments on reports of what the poet himself had said. The poem considered in detail is part of the Qaadiriya Sufi tradition in which poetry composed in Arabic plays an important role including poems in the k¯amil metre.

Item Type: Journal Article
Keywords: somali poetry, metre, arabic, ,ar¯ud.
SOAS Departments & Centres: Departments and Subunits > School of Languages, Cultures & Linguistics
ISSN: 18776930
Copyright Statement: This is the version of the article accepted for publication in Brill's Journal of Afroasiatic Languages and Linguistics published by Brill
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): https://doi.org/10.1163/18776930-01102007
Date Deposited: 17 May 2019 08:28
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/30612
Related URLs: https://brill.c ... ll-overview.xml (Publisher URL)

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