Sunday 25 March 2018

Hadrawi: The Somali Shakespeare

I was lucky enough to be asked by the BBC to make a documentary about the Somali poet Hadrawi who lives in Bur'ao in Somaliland. You can listen to the programme here: The Somali Shakespeare

I took lots of photos while making the programme.


Hadrawi and me

Festive car (I didn't take this photo)

Independence celebrations (I didn't take this photo)

There are many poets in Somaliland including this policeman who has published a book of poetry




Delicious fresh fish in the port town of Berbera

Hadrawi and his wife at home in Bur'ao

Pomegranate growing in Hadrawi's favourite hotel in Bur'ao, City Plaza

No guns or knives allowed in City Plaza



Interviewing Hadrawi


Hadrawi holding some of his manuscripts



Hadraw's personal assistant, Mohammed Suleiman, who makes sure the poems are kept safely. 



City Plaza hotel

A Syrian doctor who had fled from Aleppo was staying at the hotel. He works in Erigavo.






A poet

Recording the sea


Outside Hadrawi's house

Hadrawi's wife



This young camel herder sang beautiful camel songs



Livestock market


These students in Hargeisa all knew Hadrawi's poems by heart


Another poet