Bridges of Understanding: learning the Somali Culture Abukar Arman Council on American-Islamic Relations CAIR-Ohio

SOMALIA Jamhuuriyadda Dimoqraadiga ee Soomaaliya

THE SOMALI PEOPLE

SOMALI HISTORY COLONIAL ERA ( 1884-1960) Cultural Characteristics The majority are from the nomadic culture Religion & Values Islam is the widely practiced religion; and people generally uphold conservative values

COLONIAL ERA

( 1884-1960)

Cultural Characteristics

The majority are from the nomadic culture

Religion & Values

Islam is the widely practiced religion; and people generally uphold conservative values

Religion Religion is part and parcel of the average individual and family life Religious materials and leaders are respected Religion is both private and public affair (Jama’ah) Prayers, especially the five daily ones, are offered wherever the worshipers happen to be

Religion is part and parcel of the average individual and family life

Religious materials and leaders are respected

Religion is both private and public affair (Jama’ah)

Prayers, especially the five daily ones, are offered wherever the worshipers happen to be

Cultural Values Language: Somali, and other tribal languages “ Bantu” & Somalis- two faces of the same coin Shared nation different cultural and historical experience Oral culture is highly valued

Language: Somali, and other tribal languages

“ Bantu” & Somalis- two faces of the same coin

Shared nation different cultural and historical experience

Oral culture is highly valued

COMMUNICATION As an oral society, Somalis give a great deal of attention to oratory and words said Good conversation is a lifeline to the majority Poetry and tribal folklore are given special attention

As an oral society, Somalis give a great deal of attention to oratory and words said

Good conversation is a lifeline to the majority

Poetry and tribal folklore are given special attention

SOMALI IMMIGRATION FIRST WAVE (70’s and 80’s) Mostly educated- they did not need assistance with resettlement SECOND WAVE (91-PRESENT) Mostly under or uneducated- they needed a lot of assistance with resettlement

FIRST WAVE (70’s and 80’s)

Mostly educated- they did not need assistance with resettlement

SECOND WAVE (91-PRESENT)

Mostly under or uneducated- they needed a lot of assistance with resettlement

Somali Immigration Continued… Refugee Camps: Harsh life- very tough for children, mothers, and elders Resettlement Process: Life-saving opportunity Families could request to reunite with loved ones

Refugee Camps:

Harsh life- very tough for children, mothers, and elders

Resettlement Process:

Life-saving opportunity

Families could request to reunite with loved ones

LIFE IN THE NEW WORLD FAMILY AND SOCIAL ISSUES Second Generation & “1 ½ Generation” Communication and Cultural Gaps in the Family Stereotyping Community Relations & Conflict resolution Nomadic Instincts

FAMILY AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Second Generation & “1 ½ Generation”

Communication and Cultural Gaps in the Family

Stereotyping

Community Relations & Conflict resolution

Nomadic Instincts

LIFE IN THE NEW WORLD Hard Work & Persistence

Hard Work

&

Persistence

Education Culturally, education is widely seen as a ticket out of poverty Many of second and 1 ½ generations are enrolling in colleges and universities Due to lack of language skills, parents have a limited capacity to help their children with school work

Culturally, education is widely seen as a ticket out of poverty

Many of second and 1 ½ generations are enrolling in colleges and universities

Due to lack of language skills, parents have a limited capacity to help their children with school work

SOCIAL SERVICES Access to services: Difficult start in the beginning; smooth process afterwards Acceptance Levels: Central Ohio ranks high in the best category Stereotypes & Misunderstandings There are isolated incidents, mainly in schools, to learn from

Access to services:

Difficult start in the beginning; smooth process afterwards

Acceptance Levels:

Central Ohio ranks high in the best category

Stereotypes & Misunderstandings

There are isolated incidents, mainly in schools, to learn from

Civil Servants and Technocrats in the Dictatorship Era Clan-based vs. skill-based Little or no accountability No Policy and procedure nor transparency Great deal of power abuse Bribery was a common practice The poor got the short end of the stick

Clan-based vs. skill-based

Little or no accountability

No Policy and procedure nor transparency

Great deal of power abuse

Bribery was a common practice

The poor got the short end of the stick

Expectations To be treated with dignity and respect To be offered clarifications when necessary To be able to understand the message being communicated to

To be treated with dignity and respect

To be offered clarifications when necessary

To be able to understand the message being communicated to

Most Common Dos and Don'ts Do greet, but don’t shake hands with the opposite sex unless they initiate that Do visit homes when necessary, but don’t bang on doors Do come in when invited, but don’t come in with your shoes on Do converse, but don’t ask personal things nor tell jokes with sexual innuendoes

Do greet, but don’t shake hands with the opposite sex unless they initiate that

Do visit homes when necessary, but don’t bang on doors

Do come in when invited, but don’t come in with your shoes on

Do converse, but don’t ask personal things

nor tell jokes with sexual innuendoes

Most Common Dos and Don'ts Do remember that people have their own individual identities and preferences Do learn key phrases for icebreaking Do compliment when necessary, but not to the opposite gender Do browse Somali websites Do remember that hospitality is one of the highly valued norms

Do remember that people have their own individual identities and preferences

Do learn key phrases for icebreaking

Do compliment when necessary, but not to the opposite gender

Do browse Somali websites

Do remember that hospitality is one of the highly valued norms

Most Common Dos and Don'ts Don’t talk to someone who is praying Don’t pass in front of someone while he/she is praying [if you must, try to put something between the two of you] Don’t call someone with your finger Don’t try to hug someone of the opposite gender

Don’t talk to someone who is praying

Don’t pass in front of someone while he/she is praying [if you must, try to put something between the two of you]

Don’t call someone with your finger

Don’t try to hug someone of the opposite gender

Most Common Dos and Don’ts Continue Don’t invite someone for a meal that contains pork Don’t invite someone for a beer or any alcoholic drinks Don’t tell religious jokes Don’t use foul language

Don’t invite someone for a meal that contains pork

Don’t invite someone for a beer or any alcoholic drinks

Don’t tell religious jokes

Don’t use foul language

Common Phrases Iska warran? (How are you?) Maalin wanaagsan (Good morning) Galab wanaagsan (Good afternoon) Habeen wanaagsan (Good evening) Magacaa? (What is your name?) Halkeed degantahay? (Where do you live?) Caruur ma leedahay? (Do you have any children?)

Iska warran? (How are you?)

Maalin wanaagsan (Good morning)

Galab wanaagsan (Good afternoon)

Habeen wanaagsan (Good evening)

Magacaa? (What is your name?)

Halkeed degantahay? (Where do you live?)

Caruur ma leedahay? (Do you have any children?)

Problem-solving Traditional approach led by community elders commonly used to solve problems Solutions mediated by the elders are commonly accepted Individual problems might carry clan implication

Traditional approach led by community elders commonly used to solve problems

Solutions mediated by the elders are commonly accepted

Individual problems might carry clan implication

Questions & Answers