THE SOMALI PORTABLE HUT (AQAL SOOMAALI)

Somalis are pastoralist nomads who raise animals in the rural areas. Because they move frequently in search of good pasture, grass, and water, they take shelter in a portable hut (AQAL Soomaali). Their dome-shaped hut is made from different traditional materials and these materials vary according to the locality and the different lifestyles. The AQAL Soomaali is made of bent saplings, animal skins, woven mats, roots of the acacia tree, grass, branches, poles, and reeds. A second type of AQAL Soomaali is used by the Agra-pastoralists and riverine community. Although it is also portable and can be collapsed at any time, it’s slightly stronger than the pastoralist one. This kind of AQAL is made from thatched roofs and palm fronds knotted together. The gathering of materials and building of the huts are exclusively the work of Somali women. They collect everything used to make the mats, which are made from acacia, palm frond, and grasses knitted and weaved together with ropes and fiber.

When the herders decide to move to a new location, they easily break down the Aqal and carry it on a camel’s back until they reach their destination.  The amazing thing in this story is that Somali women are responsible for managing the Aqal from its inception to its conclusion. They are responsible for reassembling the hut once a new place is discovered. The space that good AQAL needs is about 2 to 2.5 square meters. To construct an AQAL one needs Udub (poles), Kabaal (pillars), Siid (short wooden branches), Heego (a bundle of saplings), and mats.

i. Udub (poles); the poles are the most important thing while constructing an AQAL. Every AQAL needs two poles (Udub), which are the middle poles that hold all the other pillars together. They are where the AQAL starts. They are perpendicularly erected inside the hut to support the Heego (bent saplings), pillars, and the mats. ii. Two Kabaal (pillar), which are erected on the sides of the entrance and resemble the jambs of a door. iii. Four Siid (short wooden branches), which support all the types of pillars and prevent the pillars from shaking. iv. Twelve Heego (bent saplings); they crisscrossing wooden branches that are placed in between every pillar and pole and form the dome-shaped. The Heego are further comprised of two different parts, namely Dhig and Lool. The Lool literally means the latitude and the Dhig mean longitude. They are interlaced when constructing the Aqal. v. Mat; the mats are made in ten different types and every mat has a position in the AQAL; 1) Two Carro Celis; is a mat that is wrapped recumbently to the bent sapling (Heego) and stretched along both sides until the hut entrance. The Carro Celis is almost half meter away from the ground. 2) Two Feer; this is another recumbent mat above the Carro celis and near the top of the roof. 3) One Kug Saar; this is the mat that covers the top of the AQAL. 4) Two Gureed Celis; a mat designed to cover at the back of the AQAL. 5) Two Gaaf; this is a mat attached under Carro Celis and around whole the hut. It starts from the ground, preventing dusts and other insects from intruding into the AQAL. In hot seasons, the Gaaf can be easily removed to allow for cool breezes to enter. When a wind begins, it can be closed to keep out the sand. 6) One Afo; an Afo is a long rectangular mat used as a door.

After completing the hut, it’s fastened and tied down with ropes so it is not blown away by storms. Mainly two types of ropes are used; Gar & Xeer. The Gar consists of six ropes that are used to lace up and fasten the entire hut from the Udub unto the Siid. Xeer is like a thick fiber and after all the other things are done, the AQAL is covered by the mats and this is where the Xeer is needed. It is wrapped diagonally and horizontally on the outside of the Aqal. The Xeer is the last object needed. All the above materials are ready made. Usually they are donated or ordered when a new family is formed and they can last for years of odyssey and travelling.

There are other two mats, namely men mats and women/children mats. The men mats are decorated in a distinctive and very beautiful way and are used by the men of the family and other guests. The other mat is both used by the women and children and usually it doesn’t have any special decoration. The inside of an Aqal is separated into two areas; the sleeping area is furnished into Raar (turfs) and is always at the back of the Aqal while the living area is at the front.  

Finally, there is an outer uncovered veranda called a Gabbaad; the Gabbaad is an uncovered shelter constructed on both sides of the Aqal. This Gabbaad is where the family remains in the evening and arranges their supper and any other entertainment before sleeping. The Kiblah direction Gabbaad is used by the men and the remaining one is used by the women and children.

                                                                                                       Elmi H Samatar

                                                                                                       samatar2020@hotmail.com