Research
Research interests
- Oral poetry
- Indian Ocean literature
- African literature
- Writings on Islands and coats
- Textiles
Current research
Ayan is currently undertaking a British Academy funded postdoctoral fellowship which documents and explore different genres of poetry about material culture (cloth, textiles, hats) that southern Somali women use to articulate their culture. The project analyses a wide range of women’s poetry from the south of Somalia such as weaving and sewing work songs, as well as wedding and dance songs. The project brings together anthropology, material culture, and oral and written literature to understand the critical significance of southern Somali women’s poetry.