History, Culture, Folklore

Learn about the traditions, culture and folklore of the island of Socotra.

Socotra in 1918 by The national geographic magazine
Socotra in 1918 by The national geographic magazine

Old photos of Socotra in The national geographic magazine. 1918. "The isle of frankincense" by Charles K.Moses Formerly United States Consul-General to Aden, Arabia.

History Frankincense Photos
Sounds of Socotra from ShortWaveMusic
Sounds of Socotra from ShortWaveMusic

A wonderful project! Now we can hear voices from the island of Socotra. Listen how people talk and sing in different parts of the island.

Socotri
Temethel as the most bright element of soqotran folklore poetry
Temethel as the most bright element of soqotran folklore poetry

Every field researcher of the Soqotri Modern South Arabian language from the first steps in his work on the island will meet these, beloved among the islanders, very useful, sharp-witted short poetry jewels of folklore, which are named "temethel" by the Soqotrans themselves.

Socotri Vladimir Agafonov
Soqotri: a Key to Unique Oral Semitic Archive Connecting Space and Times
Soqotri: a Key to Unique Oral Semitic Archive Connecting Space and Times

A Letter to The International Conference «Yemen: Bridging the Gap between the Past and Present»

Culture Fairy-tales Socotri Vladimir Agafonov
Socotra Fairy-tales
Socotra Fairy-tales

Two men loved each other - because the men were brothers. One day one of them said to the other: - Brother, do you know what will separate us? - What? - the other said. - Woman's work,- the first said. - Woman's work? It's impossible!- his brother said." Fatima Salim, who is telling me this oldest tale, doesn't stop sewing and the voice of her sewing machine accompanies the story. Fatima, who never went to school in her life, is sitting on the entrance of her family's cave. She doesn't know that a story like this one - about the two brothers and the dishonest wife of one of them - was once recorded in ancient Egypt over 3000 years ago for the Crown Prince Seti and is kept now as a great value in the Papiry collection of the British Museum.

Culture Fairy-tales Socotri Vladimir Agafonov
Life of islanders
Life of islanders

Life of islanders in photos

Culture
Chronology of Socotra
Chronology of Socotra

The Socotrans have never mastered the written language. That is why they were unable to document and keep a chronicle of their history. Since ancient times it has been only their native nonliterate language the Socotran people used for communication. Therefore, the real history of this Archipelago is still little-known.

History Culture Pirates Vladimir Agafonov
    Dragon tree's resin, you can buy on the Island, has strong antiseptic and immunostimulating properties.