Ten Somali Artifacts to Know

Somali nomads and farmers were skilled engineers that have created tools from the natural world around them. They have created mats, building materials, baskets, milk and water containers, and many other items from the natural world. Somali nomads and farmers have processed the plants available to them for many different uses.

In this post, I will share ten Somali artifacts that I have used or have seen being used. They are some of the most common Somali artifacts.

1.   HAAN

Haan has been used by Somali nomads for centuries. Haan is used as water container. Somali nomads would place them on camels to fetch water from the nearest water source. Haamo are typically kept inside huts to store water.

Haamo have also been used by Somali women to churn milk. In this process, Somali women would often sing for the Haan asking it to give butter.

They would sing:

Haan yahay bulooy iibax

Laba qaar laguu kala jar

Laba qaalin kula buubtay

Haan yahay bulooy iibax…

Haamo are typically woven by Somali women from a plant called QABO. Somali women start weaving them from the bottom center. Material is added in a circular manner until the desired dimensions are achieved. Haamo are traditionally placed in a frame called SAAB for stability and for protection.

2.   SAAB

Saab is the frame that holds the Haan, see item #1. It is made from trees branches called DHUYAC, GOB AND MIRA CAS. The branches are held together by leather called JIL.

Saab is also used by Somali women to put Uunsi scent on their clothes. Uunsi is placed on a burning charcoal which releases pleasant aroma. Somali women turn the Saab upside down over the smoking Uunsi. Clothes are then placed on top of the Saab. When the scent burns out, the clothes are folded. The clothes are then left with a unique perfume aroma that lingers around for days.

3.   DHIIL AND HARUUB

Dhiil is a milk container. It is used to collect milk while milking livestock. Dhiil is made from a plant called QABO. Dhiil has historically been woven by Somali women. The Dhiil cover is called Haruub and is used as a cup to drink milk. Decorative Dhiil are typically curved out of wood by Somali men.

Dhiil is cleaned and kept fresh in a process called Culid. This is done by placing the Dhiil over smoking wood. Wood from a tree called MAYGAAG or DEEB. The Dhiil is then wiped clean with a cloth called CATIR. The Culid process gives the Dhiil and the milk in the Dhiil a distinctive smoky smell.

Nomadic families milk livestock in the morning and in evenings. Milk is then shared among the family members along with jokes, stories and other entertainments every evening. At times, family members would drink from the same Haruub. This is called WADAAGID which roughly translates to sharing.

4.   MASAF

Masaf is a Somali grain sifter. Like many of the Somali artifacts, it is also made from a plant. It is made from a plant called QABO by Somali nomads or woven from a plant called XASKUL by Somali farmers. Somali women start making them from the center and keep adding circular rows until the desired dimensions are achieved. Masaf is used to sift unwanted materials such as rocks from grains. Grains are placed on the Masafo. The Masaf is then moved in a circular motion or up and down at an angle to separate the grains from other unwanted materials. This process of sifting the grains using Masaf is called HAADIN in Somali.

There is a Somali saying that uses the HAADIN process, which roughly translates to like a mother, like a daughter. Somali people say, GABADHII HOOYADEED HARUURKA TUNTAA, IYANA HAADINTAY BARATAA.

5.   DARIN/CAW

Caw or Darin is a type of Somali mat. It is woven from a plant called BAAR or CAW. The process of making the Caw is called FALKIN. Caw is used as mat to sit or sleep on. Caw is typically made by Somali farmers that live near rivers.

6.   RAAR

Raar is another type of traditional Somali mat. Raar is used to build traditional Somali huts called AQAL SOOMAALI. It is also used as mat to sit or to sleep on by Somali nomads.

Raar is woven from a particular type of grass and sapwood threads. Somali women weave the Raar. Sometimes they would dye the sapwood threads using plant-based colorant. At times they would incorporate colorful threads to style the Raar.

7.   FANDHAAL

Fandhaal is a spoon. Somali men typically curve it out of plant called XAGAR. Some of the Fandhaalo have geometric shapes curved on them for styling.

8.   XEERO / XEEDHO

Xeero is essentially a bowl. It is used in certain regions in Somali inhabited areas in the Horn of Africa. When a woman gets married, her family makes multiple Xeerooyin. Each Xeedho contains a particular item. Some of the Xeerooyin contain fried meat called OODKAC or MUQMAD. The meat is typically covered with mashed dates blended with different aromatic spices. Each Xeero is decorated and intricately tied with a colorful thin rope.

The bride’s family bring the Xeerooyin to the reception. Men are challenged to open the rope. A woman with a small stick guards the Xeero making sure that the man trying to open the rope does not touch certain areas of the Xeedho. This game is played until someone solves the problem and opens the rope. The contents of the opened xeero are shared at the reception. The remaining Xeerooyin are taken by the groom’s family.

The groom’s family place gifts in each Xeero for the bride’s family. They then return the Xeerooyin with the gifts to the bride’s family.

9.   KOOR

Koor is a bell placed on camels. Traditionally, Koor is curved by Somali men from a tree called LABBI.

10. HANGOOL

Hangool is a stick that is used by Somali nomads to get seeds and leaves from trees for their livestock. Hangool is used as a support stick during long walks. It is also used to protect livestock from predators.

The Hangool has two unique characteristics. On one end Hangool has a hook and a fork that branches out on the other end. The Hangool is curved by Somali men from a tree called MAREER. Hangool is a is strong stick that serves many purposes for its user.

As can be seen in the above Somali artifacts, the environment particularly trees and grass have played pivotal role in the Somali community for centuries. Almost all Somali artifacts contain some part of a plant or animal skin. Somali artifacts have historically either been curved out of wood by Somali men or woven by Somali women. Somali nomads and farmers have historically relied on the natural world around them.

Acknowledgment:

Thank you, Somali Museum of Minnesota! All the pictures used in this post are of artifacts owned by the Somali Museum of Minnesota.

To learn more about Somali artifacts, please visit the Somali Museum of Minnesota.

Website: https://www.somalimuseum.org/

Address: 1516 E Lake St #011, Minneapolis, MN 55407

© Copyright 2019 Fadumo A. Yusuf.  All rights reserved.