Ali Bu'ul

Ali Bu'ul (Somali: Cali Bucul), was a famous Somali poet, military leader and sultan from the 19th century originating from the North Western part of Somalia and Djibouti. Renown for his short lined poems who were in vogue before the early 20th century. Many of his poems are still known today[1][2]

Sultan Ali Bu'ul Cali Bucul
Born	Awdal region
Occupation	Poet, Military leader and Sultan
Children	Sultan Omar (Suldaan Cumar)

History

Originally from the Aden Yonis section of the Makahil Samaron (Gadabursi). A renown poet from the 19th century among the ranks of Adan Gurey and Mahamed Abdille Hassan (Sayidka). Ali Bu'ul has produced numerous poems that still to this day are read and presented at gatherings. He was born in the Awdal region in the district of Borama. [3]

He opposed the Abyssinians from taxing the Somali inhabitant in current area we know Somali region of Ethiopia. He was celebrated for his geeraar (a Somali term indicating a shorter version of poetry, shorter lines compared to conventional poetry or gabay). Geeraars are traditionally mostly recited during challenging times of war and battle. The Gadabursi were renown for praising their horses in their geeraar and echoing their name. Ali Bu'ul as a military leader he met the Sayyid or Mahamed Abdullah Hassan somewhere within the current borders the Somali region of Ethiopia. The Sayid was amazed to hear that the Gadabursi are renown for praising their horsing very much and long in their geeraar and echoing the horses their names. The religious leaders Mahamed Abdullah decided to hear for himself and challenged Ali Bu'ul. They slinged insults and threats at each other. It was then that the famous poem Amaan Faras was recited by Ali Bu'ul while riding his horse, which till this day is taught in Somali schools and is widely known among the Somali people.

The tree under which Sultan Omar Ali' Bu'ul was crowned and his inauguration was celebrated. It is located in the area called Shibiqo in the vicinity of Sheddher.

The poem is titled Amaan Faras which translated to In Praise of My Horse:

Gamaan Waa Magic Guudoo, Sanga aan Gabanayniyo

Magaankii Godanaa iyo, Geenyadii Dhadigayd baa,

Gabigood ka Dhaxaysoo, Haybta way isku Gartaane,

Guulwadaw Faraskaygu, Hadii aan Galadiisiyo,

Gedahiisa Tilmaamo, Waa Gal Maaxanayoo,

Gaadhi Mayno Xogtiisoo, Waan ka Gaab-Sanayaaye,

Rag allow Gaf Miyaa ?? Almis Goodiyadeediyo

Bulaxaar Guduunkeediyo, Golihii Harawaad iyo

Gureys Reeraha Yaala, Galab Buu isku MaraayeMa Daruur Gudgudaa ??

Gabangoodi Abaaroo, Dadku Guunyo ka Quustay

Geel Buu soo Tu’iyaaye, Ma Gob reera Dhacdaa

Goluhuu Miranaayay, Gurxan Dhowrta Fogeeyiyo

Gooh Wayn Baa ka Baxayee, Ma Aar Goosn Wataa ??

Golihii ku Xidhnaa, Nacab soo Gardaraystiyo

Gaas Laxaadliyo Guutiyo, Guluf Weerar ku Qaadiyo

Gaado Goonya Wareegiyo, Guhaad Buu ku Xijaaboo

Rugtiisa Ma Gaydoo, Aad baa loogu Gamaaye

Ma Ganuun Nin Dhamaa ?? Gudcur Roob Gibil Saarayoo

Gufaacadiisiyo Caydhka, Naftaydii Gilgilaysa

Tuuga soo Gabanaaya, Laydhiisuu ka Gartaaye

Ma guhaan Garab daar loo, Faalka Guun ku Noqdaa ??

Hal’garaadka Guntiisiyo, Guudka buu ka Cadaadee

Ma Galool Ubaxlaa ?? Fanku suu u Dhitoobay

Ma aroos Dhumuc Waynoo, Duleedkuun Dhacandiidoo

Dhiinle Loo Alyayaa ?? Tagoogaa Dhanbacaada

Ma Libaax Dhalanteedoo, Cad Geel Dhuunyanayaa

Dhasalaalaq Ciyaarka, Ma dhalaan Rugtii Joogaa

Soo Dhaandhaansada Uurkoo, Dhibic Roob Helaybaa ?

Sayntiisuu ka Cisiine, Ma Sayruuq la Ganaa

Afartiisa Cagood iyo, Cududaa Dib u Laabiga

Ma Camoodiga Haadoo, Samadaa ku Carceerayoo

Meel casaanle Arkaayo, Hoos U Caaridayaa ?

Halka Lowgiyo Laabtiyo, Ladanow Badhi Dhawrkiyo

Leemaaduhu iska Galeenbaa, Ladnaan Loogu Gamaaye

Ma Aroos Ladan Baa ? Helmiyay oo Helmiyay oo helmiyay

Oo ammaantiisii Heli Waayee, Hoosiisow Midabkaagu

Ma Habeynkiyo Waagoo

Kala Haayirayaa

— Ali Bu'ul (Cali Bucul), Amaan Faras

A fragment of the poem Amaan Faras composed by Ali Bu'ul in the Gadabuursi script.

Here is where he coined the term Guulwade, which Somalis still use up to this day and especially during Somalia's revolutionary council years[4] A fraction of the poem illustrated in the Gadabursi script translated as:[5]

From the seaside of Bulahar

to the corner of the Almis mountain and Harawe of the pools Hargeisa of the Gob trees My horse reaches all that in one afternoon Is it not like a scuddling cloud? From it's pen A huge roar is heard Is it not like a lion leading a pride? In the open plains It makes the camels kneel down Is it not like an exper camel-rustler? It's mane and tail has white tufts on the top

Is it not as beautiful as a galool tree abloom?

— Ali Bu'ul (Cali Bucul), In Praise of My Horse

Another famous poem by Ali Bu'ul is Guulside, which translates to Victory-Bearer, here is an extract from the poem:

Guulsidow faraskayga.

Hadii aan gallaaddsiisiyo.

Gedihiisa tilmaamo.

Waa gal maxaanaya oo.

Gaadhimayno xogtiisa oo.

Waan ka gaabsanayaaye.

Rag allow gef miyaa?.

Almis gooddiyadeediyo.

Galihii harawaadiyo.

Gureys beelaha yaalla.

Galab buu isku maraaye.

Ma daruud gudgudaa?

Gabangoobi abaar ah oo.

Dadku guunyo ka quustay.

Geel bu soo tu'iyaayee.

Ma gob reera dhacdaa?

Galuhuu miranaayo.

Gurxan dhawrta fogeeyiyo.

— Ali Bu'ul (Cali Bucul), Guulside

this particular poem alliterates echoing the horse's name.[6]

Here is the full English translation of the extract mentioned above in Somali:

O my horse Guulside!

If his goodness

And his nature I try to describe,

He is a pool that refills itself

And I cannot plumb his secret.

I fall short.

Tell me, people, am I at fault?

The slopes of Mount Almis

And the Haraw ravine,

The camps on Mount Gureys,

He passes them in one evening.

Is he the cloud that brings rain in the night?

From the drought-bound desert,

When people despair of their flocks.

He drives the camels home.

Is he a noble warrior raiding enemy camps?

Grazing his field at night,

His whinnying keeps wild animals at bay,

— Ali Bu'ul (Cali Bucul), Guulside (Victory-Bearer!)

Here is the full translation of Guulside (Victory-Beared) translated, translated and compiled by B. & S. Andrzejewski, published by Indiana University Press (1993) in An Anthology of Somali Poetry[7]:

The full translation of Guulside (Victory-Bearer!)

There are three that share alike the name of horse,

And first there’s the charger, that does not flinch

When javelins and arrow fly –

He’s the one that enemies will cower from in fear.

Then there’s the plodding nag, that’s good for journeys made by night –

A useful mount for those advanced in years.

And lastly there’s the mare, with which the other horses mate.

They know, these three, that all are of the same descent,

However much they differ in character and mien.

All have their respective grades of quality

And this is recognized at the assembly tree –

Is that not so, my noble people?

Now if I set out the give due praise

To my horse Guulside, the Victory Bearer,

And try to describe what he is like,

I must fall short in my account

For he is like a pool which fills with water

And fills itself again and yet again

And we will never fathom all his secrets.

Is that a fault on my part, O men, whoever you may be?

One evening is all the time he needs

To traverse the slopes of the Almis hills,

The plain of Harawo and the Gureys encampments.

Is he not as swift as ta rain-bearing cloud at night?

At times of raging drought

When men lose hope for their herds,

You can ride out on Guulside

And he drives home looted camels.

Is he not like a man of mettle, raiding others’ encampments?

At night, wherever he is put to graze,

His clamorous neighing wards off beasts of prey.

A mighty bellow he sends forth –

Is he not like a lion, the leader of a pride of lions?

Wherever he is tethered

His fierce roaring protects that place

Against an enemy bent on mischief,

Against a powerful force,

Against a horde of warriors,

Against a troop of horsemen ready to attack,

Against marauders lurking round in bands.

No hunger comes into his homestead

People can sleep there soundly – can they not? –

For is he not like the death that massacres all creatures

And from which men flinch in horror?

Even when dark and moonless night

Is enveloped by a falling sheet of rain

Whose drumming, and the road of the wind,

Sets all living things a-tremble

And scatters their wits with fright,

He can detect the scent of a lurking thief.

Is he not then a soothsayer, a knower of hidden things,

A master of divination from the telling of the beads?

His body has not yet begun to grow old

But there is white at his nape and on his mane

See – is he not like an acacia tree in bloom?

— Ali Bu'ul (Cali Bucul), Guulside (Victory-Bearer!)

References

1. Aspetti dell'espressione artistica in Somalia: scrittura e letteratura, strumenti musicali, ornamenti della persona, intaglio del legno (in Italian). Università di Roma La Sapienza. 1987.
2. Abdullahi, Mohamed Diriye (2001). Culture and Customs of Somalia. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-31333-2.
3. Suugaan: Fasalka labaad (in Somali). Wasaaradda Waxbarashada iyo Barbaarinta. 1977.
4. Suugaan: Fasalka labaad (in Somali). Wasaaradda Waxbarashada iyo Barbaarinta. 1977. Cali Bucul: Amaan Faras
5. Abdullahi, Mohamed Diriye (2001). Culture and Customs of Somalia. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-31333-2.
6. Saeed, John (1999-11-15). Somali. John Benjamins Publishing. ISBN 978-90-272-8307-8.
7. An Anthology of Somali Poetry. Indiana University Press. 1993. ISBN 978-0-253-30462-9.