The Somali Poetry Initiative announced this year’s winners of its poetry competition today, 22nd November 2021. 

More than 200 entries competed in three categories: Poet of the Year, Woman Poet of the Year and Youth Poet of the Year, which was awarded to Mubarik Yusuf Dheeg for his poem about humility, kindness and respect.

Raxma Xuseen Huriye, whose poem appealed for unity and warned of the dangers that come when a society loses its culture and values, said she "was extremely happy" to be named female poet of the year, BBC Africa reports. 

Huriye is a 26 year old woman who was born into a family of poets living in a village in Somaliland. 

“Across different styles, historical eras and regional variations, if there’s one thing that unites Somalis all over the world, it’s an agreement that their poetry is fantastic,” UNDP Somalia writes about the project which is co-created by a team of outstanding poets and leading creatives from the fields of music, photography, journalism.

The Somali Poetry Awards aim to promote Somali poetry and to enlist its power to advance women’s rights and peace-building.

The Awards are given annually and are open to all Somalis, including in the diaspora. Judged by some of the most respected Somali literary figures, the Awards are the highest recognition of Somali poetic excellence.