Overview
Abdullahi A. Nor’s narrative is a sweeping historical reconstruction of Sir Richard Burton’s 1854–1855 journey through the Horn of Africa, written with literary polish and ethnographic precision. Drawing heavily from First Footsteps in East Africa, Nor revisits Burton’s odyssey not merely as an act of exploration but as a profound cultural encounter — between the Victorian world of empire and the oral democracies of Somali society.
This is no mere retelling; it is a reinterpretation that situates Burton’s journey within Somali agency, geography, and memory.
Strengths
1. Masterful Historical Framing
Nor situates Burton’s journey in the larger 19th-century “Age of Exploration” but immediately distinguishes him from the rest. The opening lines — invoking “lost cities, the sources of the Nile, and the edges of empire” — evoke the grandeur of exploration while contrasting Burton’s intellectual curiosity against the imperial arrogance of his contemporaries.
The author skillfully connects this to the ancient identity of Punt, grounding the reader in a Somali-centered geography rather than a European map.
2. Ethnographic Fidelity and Respect
Each section dedicated to a Somali clan (Isa, Gadabuursi, Habr Awal, Geri Kombe, Dir) is both vivid and fair. Nor captures the internal diversity and sophistication of Somali society — emphasizing customary law (xeer), lineage politics, and oral governance.
He translates Burton’s occasionally exotic descriptions into respectful ethnography, allowing Somali institutions to stand as coherent systems of law and social contract rather than “tribal curiosities.”
Notably, his description of the Gadabuursi’s “parliament without walls” and the Geri Kombe’s “court beneath a tamarind tree” demonstrate a deep understanding of the Somali moral order.
3. Elegant Prose and Balanced Tone
The writing is lyrical without being overwrought. Phrases like “every man carries his genealogy in his memory, his honor on his tongue, and his sword at his side” echo Burton’s own romantic language but carry a Somali rhythm and restraint.
Nor’s tone remains balanced — critical of colonial ambitions yet appreciative of Burton’s intellectual courage and curiosity.
4. Restoring Somali Centrality
Most English-language writings on Burton cast him as the protagonist and the Somali as the backdrop. Nor reverses this perspective: the land, people, and codes of the Horn become the story’s true framework. Burton appears as a guest navigating a pre-existing civilization.
By calling the Somalis “a democracy of equals,” Nor not only quotes Burton but reclaims the phrase as a historical affirmation of Somali political identity — centuries before the notion of “federalism” entered the region’s discourse.
Weaknesses
1. Limited Critical Interrogation of Burton’s Biases
While the author acknowledges the “colonial assumptions of his age,” he does not fully unpack how Burton’s writings reinforced later imperial projects. A deeper critique of the racial, economic, and religious hierarchies embedded in Burton’s ethnography could have strengthened the analysis.
2. Absence of Contemporary Reflection
The “Epilogue” beautifully connects Burton’s footsteps to the modern Somali landscape, yet the piece stops short of drawing explicit parallels to current identity debates, border politics, or the legacies of British and Ethiopian influence.
A paragraph connecting Burton’s maps to present-day geopolitical fault lines — Somaliland, the Ogaden, Zeila, Harar — would have added resonance.
3. Over-Romanticization
Though Nor’s poetic tone is captivating, at times it risks idealizing precolonial Somali society as an egalitarian utopia. A few nods to internal conflicts, feuds, or hierarchies could balance this romantic portrayal.
Style and Structure
Nor organizes the piece with clarity and rhythm. Each clan is given a standalone section, producing a sense of journey and continuity. The structure mirrors a caravan route — coastal, pastoral, frontier, and highland — culminating in Harar.
His use of bold subheadings and balanced paragraphs makes the text highly readable for both academic and general audiences.
Conclusion
Abdullahi A. Nor’s essay is a rare blend of historical scholarship, literary craft, and cultural empathy. It reframes Burton’s First Footsteps not as a European triumph of discovery but as an encounter between knowledge systems — one written, the other spoken.
It is both a homage to Somali civilization and a critique of how history was told about it. Nor gives voice to the Isa, Gadabuursi, Habr Awal, and Geri Kombe not as footnotes to Burton’s adventure, but as the rightful authors of their own landscape.
In short, this story is not merely about Burton’s footsteps — it’s about the ground he walked on finally speaking for itself.
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Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Verdict: A meticulously researched and elegantly written historical essay that reclaims Somali agency in one of the most mythologized episodes of African exploration.
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 