Translation of old Somali songs

[Abaq]

Did you grow up watching your parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles etc listen to classical Somali songs from 'berisamaadkii'? Did you always want to know what those songs meant? Do you want to feel what they felt? Do you want to appreciate the beauty that they experienced? Is your Somali not good enough to appreciate those songs in their original language?

Well, you've come to the right thread. In this thread I will translate a selection of old Somali songs that I like from the golden era of Somali songs (pre-1990). Not only will I translate the songs to the best of my ability, I will also explain why the poets use the imagery and descriptions they do.

Tag along and enjoy with us. Let us travel to the days of our parents' youth.

 

[Abaq]

Sida meel cosob loo - Like a verdant pasture


In this first love song, the poet begins by describing the beauty of his beloved in a theme that will soon become familiar. He uses the beauty of the nomadic countryside during spring when the land is verdant and lush, as a metaphor for the beauty of his beloved. Due to the harsh countryside in which the nomads live, where for most of the year water is scarce and the land is hot and parched, the coming of Spring with its cool rains and the lush greenery and plentiful water that follows holds a high place in the heart of the nomad. With the first rains, all his sorrows and tribulations from the long months of drought are forgotten. He moves with his family and livestock to be nearer his clansmen, where they amuse themselves with poetry and storytelling. The land is plentiful, and the animals productive. Young men and women also yearn for Spring as that is when they have a chance to get married. In short, Spring is associated with every good in the nomadic life.

He starts with:

Sida meel cosob loo - Like a verdant pasture
Inta uu cirkii helay - upon which the storms have passed
Xareed laga cabaayee - filling pools from which are drunk
Cagaarkii ka soo baxay - and the shrubbery that grows from therein
Iyo curubta laamaha - and the tender leaves they spring forth
Caynkooda weeyee - such is her beauty!

He then continues to discuss her beauty, highlighting that no matter from which angle he looks at her, she is perfect in his eyes. Normally, most people will say they look good from a particular angle and will even request photos only from that angle. However, in the eyes of our poet, his beloved is perfect from every angle:

Caadilkii abuuraa - the Just Lord that created her
Qurux badan ku caawiyoo - has indeed aided her with much beauty
Cad cad ka liita ma lahee - no limb of hers is inferior to the rest!

He then begins to detail for us her physical characteristics which he finds so irresistible. As a side point, all these characteristics were the benchmark for beauty in classical Somali society. He begins by mentioning her reddish 'maariin' complexion, the favoured complexion of classical Somalis. He also juxtaposes the darkness of her gums with her shiny white teeth. A tall elegant neck was also favoured:

Midabkoo casaaniyoo - a reddish complexion
Dhexdoo caday la moodiyoo - with a waist as thin as a miswak stick
Naaskoo caaro dhuubiyoo - and breasts with prominent nipples
Ciridkoo madow iyo - and gums ever so dark
Ilkahoo cadaaniyoo - with shining white teeth
Qoorteedoo cabbaaryo leh - and an elegant neck

To further emphasise the beauty of his beloved, the poet wants to convince us that he is not blinded by love, rather her beauty is an objective fact. So objective that, when she walks down the road during golden-hour in the afternoon, even the holy pious wadaad and the impotent old men are tempted by her beauty and attempt to follow her. This is very poignant, as the holy wadaad normally lowers his gaze and doesn't stare at women. However, her beauty is so captivating that not only does the wadaad stare at her, he almost attempts to follow her. Even more so, the impotent old man who lost all desire for women many moons ago likewise feels desire running through his veins once again when he sees her beauty, and despite his frailty and infirmity, stands on his legs to get a better view to admire her beauty:

Markay sii carowdee - when she walks during the late afternoon
Cayaarsiiso laafyaha - playfully swaggering down the road
Iska daa nin caasiyoo - forget the sinful man
Culumaa u diinkiyoo - even the pious holy man
Cirroolahaa istaagoo - and the old and frail man stands for her
Daba carari gaadhee - and almost runs after her

After extolling the beauty of his beloved, the poet in his sorrow and longing mentions how lucky is the man who is able to spend time with her, eat and drink with her, laugh and frolic with her. We can understand from here that although the poet loves this girl ever so dearly, he is for whatever reason unable to get her. All he is able to do is appreciate her beauty from afar and imagine what life would be like if he were to have her. Only those that have been prevented from their beloved due to time and circumstances can appreciate the longing the poet feels here:

Cawo iyo ayaan waxaa leh - Indeed fortunate is he
Nimay caano la cabtoo - the man whom she drinks milk with
La cawayso gabadhuyoo - and merrily spends the evening with
Gogol kula cayaartoo - frolicking on the mattress together
Hadba soo cuskanayee - lost in each other's embrace

Our poet ends by returning to describe the beauty of his beloved using the beauty of the flora and fauna of his homeland as a metaphor. He describes the beauty of an elegant mare (female horse) who has never been burdened by heavy labour, nor ridden on an expedition. This mare is pasturing on the lush vegetation of Caado and Dannood during Spring. Caado and Dannood are two famous lakes, rich in grazing and water, and are part of the 7 Haro Xagarrey lakes which are the crown jewels of the Ciid region of the Hawd and the entire Somali peninsular:

Sida geenyo cayishoo - like a well-fed mare
Caadiyoo Dannoodiyoo - at Caado and Dannood
Meel cagaarle daaqdee - pasturing on a lush pasture
Aan culays la saarinoo - that has never been burdened before
Wali caga-gubyooninoo - nor whose hooves have been burdened by riding
Caynkeeda weeyee - such is her beauty