Ninaasa (traditional poetry) in Syan culture is a highly respected and valued artform. It is used in many instances such as:

 

• The national anthem

• Declaration Festivals

• Religious teachings

• The national motto

 

Ninaasa is written in the poetic abstract tense (Ba-daali Lalaa-doa Di-ninaasa) and consists of several short lines made up of three word statements. These statements include a quantity, a colour and a noun. Each of these words will be picked from a list of traditional words that all have a specific meaning, when combined these statements convey emotions, character traits and abstract concepts ranging in complexity. The longer a poem is, the more complex and detailed the subject being described is. Some religious ninaasa can reach several dozen lines long. 

​

An important note is that the exact meaning of ninaasa is up to the reader's interpretation, only the meanings of each metaphorical word are set in stone. Many combinations can be made to mean the same thing, and the same combinations can mean different things in different contexts. Ninaasa is highly symbolic and so direct meaning is difficult to infer.

 

Click here for the meanings of the words used in ninaasa

​

​

Below is an example of ninaasa describing the sun:
 

a ola-karAka

lod-aka kara-li kakAmisal-ili

lad-ili siA-li o’gok-aka

gAn-aka isa-li o’lili-ka

gin-ili babi-li o’kakAmisal-aka

​

Translated into english it reads as:

 

The Sun

One red ocean

Four black rocks

Seven gold birds

Eight turquoise oceans

 

When the meanings are applied to each word it can be read as:

 

The only heat which never ends

Strong amounts of unknown power

Moving far as it wants

Never being cold for all time

​