Buraanbur: A Somali Poetic Tradition

Buraanbur is a form of traditional Somali poetry composed and performed by women, combining verse, rhythm, and dance to tell stories and celebrate community. In this program, Timiro Aganeh and Ebyan Gele introduced the history and cultural significance of Buraanbur, inviting participants, including students in WSTD10H3: Creating Stories for Social Change, to engage with the poetic form themselves.

Following the presentation, Sahra Gelle—whose portrait appears in the current Threads of Refuge exhibition in the Instructional Centre Vitrines—led a participatory performance with fellow poet Saadiyo Hashi, accompanied by Ayan Hussein on drums.

This program was also open to the public; lunch and refreshments were provided.

Buraanbur: A Somali Poetic Tradition is supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada grant.