Musa Haji Ismail Galal

Musa Haji Ismail Galal (Somali: Muuse Xaaji Ismaaciil Galaal, Arabic: موسى الحاج اسماعيل جلال‎) (1917–1980) was a Somali writer, scholar, linguist, historian and polymath. He is notable for his contribution to the creation of the Somali Latin script.[1]

Musa Haji Ismail Galal
Native name
Muuse Xaaji Ismaaciil Galaal
BornMuuse Xaaji Ismaaciil Galaal
1917 (1917)
Burao, British Somaliland
Died1980 (aged 62–63)
OccupationLinguist, historian
Period1950s-1970s
SubjectSomali history and science
Notable worksThe terminology and practice of Somali weather lore, astronomy, and astrology (1968)
Stars, seasons and weather in Somali pastoral traditions (1970)

Biography

Galal was born in 1917 in Burao. He hails from the Habar Jeclo clan of the Isaaq. He is noted for having contributed to the development of Wadaad script. In the 1950s, Galal introduced a more radical alteration of the Arabic script to represent the Afro-Asiatic Somali language. He came up with an entirely new set of symbols for the Somali vowels. I.M. Lewis (1958) considers this to be the most accurate Arabic script to have been devised for the Somali language.[2] A prolific writer, Galal was also among the foremost authorities on the Somali astrological, meteorological and calendrical systems. He devoted two major works to traditional Somali science, both of which are regarded as classics in Somali Studies. He was prolific in recording and writing about Somali poetry and his recordings include the work of Salaan Carrabey.[3]

After a long scholarly career, Galal died in 1980.[2]

In his honour, the Somali Studies Association periodically presents the Musa Galaal Award to Somalists whose work on Somali history and culture has earned distinction.

Bibliography
  • The terminology and practice of Somali weather lore, astronomy, and astrology (1968)
  • Stars, seasons and weather in Somali pastoral traditions (1970)

See also

Notes
  1. Abdullahi, Mohamed Diriye (2001). Culture and Customs of Somalia. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-31333-2.
  2. Lewis, p.139-140
  3. Galaal, Musa H.I; Andrzejewski, B.W (1963). Journal of African languages A Somali Poetic Combat - III. Macmillan. p. 190-205.

References
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