Is qat the drug of choice for poets throughout Somalia?
Some people need a glass of wine or a good meal but for me it’s qat! It gives me the kick that I need. I’ve never written a poem without taking it. I’m not sure if other people are taking it to be creative. I can only speak for myself on this. During your learning as a poet did you have any access to western poetry? Not much really. Some Shakespeare and Keats. T.S. Eliot more recently. Obviously it’s mainly Arabic literature that we have access to as it’s the language that is much closer to our country. There is such a wealth of poetry in the Arab world and new poets coming through all the time. It’s hard to keep up and read it all. But there were some of Shakespeare’s plays had an influence on me. I once remember playing Hamlet in a play at school in Hargeysa! Somalis are undoubtedly real connoisseurs when it comes to knowing their own poets. As a leading poet in Somalia does this make you take your role as a voice to the people more seriously? More than that it makes me take my role
