#dabshid

[nomadsomali]

Somali traditions; The beating "istunka".

Once a year, the residents of the Somali farming community of afgooye would gather in a field for a mock fight with sticks known as istunka.

This is a ceremony to mark the start of a new Year (persian new year known as Dabshid in Somali) .

After whipping each other, they gather for an evening of shaax, dancing, songs and pray for a fruitful harvest.

[theyearofyears]

Dabshid, 27th July - the ‘true’ Somali New Year

Today is Dabshid, or Istunka, the festival of fire and an ancient Somali custom for being in the traditional Somali New Year, which heralds the beginning of the farming year. The old tradition formed around mock-fights between villages, and there is also a tradition to light a fire and for all the family or village to jump through it to bring good luck for the following year’s harvest.

From reading the little I have found online, mostly in this link, it seems this custom harks back to pre-Islamic pagan times in Somalia. Somalis follow the Islamic lunar calendar mostly, but this solar year is important for crop and livestock farmers. The old customs are described well here too

Somalia continues to be battling the forces and jihadi tactics of al-Shabaab. The Afgooye District - which is about 25 miles from Mogadishu - has seen quite a lot of the trouble. It is also the centre for an annual Istunka event.

Here’s hoping this year’s crop is good. And a happier and more peaceful New Year.