Somali Culture- The Basics

I thought I would begin our blog by describing a little about the traditional Somali culture. The following information (and more) can be found at:
http://www.somaliculture.net/customs/index.html
I really like this website (which was written by high school students) because it describes a lot of practices which would be useful for a social worker to know when working with a Somali client. The website provides further information including: dress, stories, poems, and music and I highly recommend checking these out.

Geography:
The country of Somalia is located on the African east coast and (along with Ethiopia and Djbouti) is often called the “Horn of Africa.” The northern portion of Somalia is hilly and most points are far above sea level. The other areas (central and southern) are relatively flat. The climate in Somalia is hot year-round due to its proximity to the equator. Monsoon winds, irregular rainfall, and droughts also occur throughout the year.

Somali people also live in northern Kenya, the Ogaden region of Ethiopia, and Djibouti. All Somalis identify themselves as one people despite their geographic location which makes them one of Africa’s largest ethnic groups.

Short History:
The nomadic rural herding culture is reflected in the term “Somali” which means “go and milk it.”

European explorers first encountered Somalia on a journey to India when they dubbed it Terra Incognite (the unknown land). British, French, and Italian imperialists attempted to divide Somalia into five parts in 1884 to split the power. Each country claimed portions of Somalia. The Somalis resisted and under the leadership of Sayed Mohammed Abdullah Hassan the “Dervishes” revolted and fought for their independence.

In 1949 Somalia became a U.S. trust territory and in 1960 they were granted independence. However, a civil war erupted in 1990 causing may Somali refugees to seek asylum in the U.S.. The war continues to this day.

Language:
The Somali langue was not established until 1974 and includes 21 consonants and 5 vowels:
The consonants: B T J X Kh D R S Sh Dh C G F Q K L M N W H Y

The vowels: A E I O U

There are many differing dialects in Somali but only one written language.
At the following web address you can play a game to match the Somali words with the correct objects: http://www.somaliculture.net/art/somalimatch/Sama%20Mix%201.htm

Traditions:
Handshakes are a common form of greeting in the Somali culture but are avoided between genders.
Common verbal greetings include:
· Assalam Alaikum (Peace be upon you)
· Nabad miyaa (is their peace)
· Subah wanaagsan (Good morning)
· Galab wanaagsan (Good afternoon)
· Habeeb wanaagsan (Good night)

The website also mentions some common hand gestures which are often used to convey ideas:
o A swift twist of the open hand means "nothing" or "no".
o Snapping fingers may mean "long ago" or and "so on"
o A thumb under the chin indicates "fullness".
o It is impolite to point the sole of one's foot or shoe at another person.
o It is impolite to use the index finger to call somebody; that gesture is used for calling dogs.
o The Western"thumbs up" is considered obscene.

A custom specific to the Somali culture (as opposed to other Islamic cultures) is the Dabshid which is a festival held in the Lower Shabelle region in which locals dance around a fire.

Headrests are commonly used in Somalia to elevate the head above the ground while sleeping and to prevent deep sleep in order to guard the herd at night.

The Somali naming system is also different from the Western system: The first name is individualized, the middle name is the father’s first name, and the last name is the grandfather’s first name. Furthermore, first and middle names are used as identification rather than the first and lat names as is common in America.

Most Somalis are Sunni Muslims which affects diet, dress, and daily routines.
The five pillars of Islam
1. The confession of faith: “There is no God but Allah, and
Mohammed is his Prophet.”
2. Prayer five times a day:
3. Giving alms
4. Fasting during the month of Ramadan
5. Making a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime (The Hajj)

Cuisine:
Most Somali meals are based around meat (goat, beef, lamb, or chicken) prepared with various spices (turmeric, coriander, cumin, or curry) and usually fried. Pork and alcohol are prohibited in the Somali diet due to Islamic traditions. Sugared tea is the most common beverage in Somalia and is consumed often. Family meals are common in Somali cultures.

Other info and pictures were taken from:
http://www.diversitycouncil.org/toolkit_preview/Resources_TipSheet_SomaliCulture.pdf
http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Somalia.html

and Google Images