GABAY-HAYIR: A SOMALI MOCK HEROIC SONG1

           GABAY-HAYIR: A SOMALI MOCK HEROIC SONG1
                                           Said S. Samatar 

The following piece, is one section of the article where Prof. Samatar explains the different forms of Maanso and more..

The technical term for poetry in Somali is Maanso, although Gabay, a less adequate word referring to only one popular form of Maanso, is more commonly used. The pastoralists classify their Maanso verse into at least six forms, each of which has a particular name and definite melody to which it is chanted or recited.

The six forms of Maanso are Gabay, Geeraar, Jiifto, Weeglo, Guuraw and Buraambur. l0 The criteria for classifying the six types of poetry into distinct forms emanate not only from melodic variations but also from variations in theme. The pastoral Somalis also classify their Maanso verse by genre and identify by name at least fifteen divergent themes that a poet may treat in his work.

Form and genre, in ordinary as well as literary usage, are confusing terms; and, hence, it may be helpful to define the sense in which the terms are used in this essay. Briefly, I speak of form to refer to the manner in which a poem is composed-its word arrangement-as distinct from what the poem is about.

Genre is used to indicate the substance, subject matter,.content, or theme of a poem, as opposed to its style. Thus, in relation to form, namely, the six-part division, we speak of such things as rhythm, balance (Miizaan), alliteration, syllabic arrangement, and the diction of the language employed.

Click here to read the entire article

Please make sure you have Adobe Reader to view the article