Taariikhda Farsoomaalida (1880-1972)

The History of the Somali Writing Tradition. Throughout history, the Somali language has been written using several different writing systems. Over a period of roughly one hundred years, various alphabets were developed and used, including the Arabic alphabet, *Far Wadaad*, the Latin alphabet, and other systems created by Somali language innovators. The use of the Arabic alphabet to write Somali dates back to the time when Islam was established in Somali-speaking regions. For centuries, this writing tradition was employed in religious, literary, and administrative contexts. It later came to be known as *Far Wadaad* and played a significant role in preserving and disseminating knowledge in the Somali language. During the 20th century, interest grew in developing a unified writing system for Somali. The question of which alphabet best represented the language became the subject of a long-standing debate. Many advocated for the continued use of the Arabic alphabet, while others worked to introduce a Latin alphabet adapted to the Somali sound system. In 1972, the Somali government of the time decided to adopt the Latin alphabet as the official script for Somali, marking a major turning point in the language’s modern history. This book presents the various writing systems that have been used to write and publish Somali in books, newspapers, and other texts. It highlights the individuals whose work contributed to the development of the Somali writing tradition, including Sheikh Cabdiraxmaan Qaaddi, Yuusuf Cismaan Keenaddiid, Sheikh Maxamed Cabdi Makaahiil, and Sheikh Aweys. The book also highlights the significant contributions made by both Somali and foreign researchers, writers, and language enthusiasts to document, develop, and disseminate the Somali written language.