Somali Cultural Awarenes

Bridges of Bridges of Understanding:Understanding:

learning the Somali Culturelearning the Somali Culture

Abukar ArmanAbukar Arman

Council on American-Islamic Council on American-Islamic Relations CAIR-OhioRelations CAIR-Ohio

SOMALIASOMALIAJamhuuriyadda Dimoqraadiga Jamhuuriyadda Dimoqraadiga

ee Soomaaliyaee Soomaaliya

THE SOMALI PEOPLETHE SOMALI PEOPLE

SOMALI HISTORYSOMALI HISTORY

► COLONIAL ERACOLONIAL ERA

((1884-1960)1884-1960)► Cultural Cultural

CharacteristicsCharacteristics The majority are from The majority are from

the nomadic culturethe nomadic culture

► Religion & ValuesReligion & Values Islam is the widely Islam is the widely

practiced religion; practiced religion; and people generally and people generally uphold conservative uphold conservative values values

ReligionReligion

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

► Religious materials and leaders are Religious materials and leaders are respectedrespected

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

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

Cultural ValuesCultural Values

►Language: Somali, and other tribal Language: Somali, and other tribal

languages languages ►““Bantu” & Somalis- two faces of the Bantu” & Somalis- two faces of the

same coin same coin ►Shared nation different cultural and Shared nation different cultural and

historical experiencehistorical experience►Oral culture is highly valued Oral culture is highly valued

COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

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

►Good conversation is a lifeline to the Good conversation is a lifeline to the majoritymajority

►Poetry and tribal folklore are given Poetry and tribal folklore are given special attentionspecial attention

SOMALI IMMIGRATIONSOMALI IMMIGRATION

►FIRST WAVEFIRST WAVE (70’s and 80’s) (70’s and 80’s) Mostly educated- they did not need Mostly educated- they did not need

assistance with resettlement assistance with resettlement

►SECOND WAVESECOND WAVE (91-PRESENT) (91-PRESENT) Mostly under or uneducated- they needed Mostly under or uneducated- they needed

a lot of assistance with resettlementa lot of assistance with resettlement

Somali Immigration Continued…Somali Immigration Continued…

►Refugee Camps:Refugee Camps: Harsh life- very tough for children, Harsh life- very tough for children,

mothers, and elders mothers, and elders

►Resettlement Process:Resettlement Process: Life-saving opportunity Life-saving opportunity Families could request to reunite with Families could request to reunite with

loved ones loved ones

LIFE IN THE NEW WORLDLIFE IN THE NEW WORLD

► FAMILY AND SOCIAL FAMILY AND SOCIAL ISSUESISSUES

► Second Generation & Second Generation & “1 ½ Generation”“1 ½ Generation”

► Communication and Communication and Cultural Gaps in the Cultural Gaps in the FamilyFamily

► StereotypingStereotyping► Community Relations & Community Relations &

Conflict resolutionConflict resolution► Nomadic InstinctsNomadic Instincts

LIFE IN THE NEW WORLDLIFE IN THE NEW WORLD

Hard WorkHard Work

&&

PersistencePersistence

Education Education

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

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

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

SOCIAL SERVICESSOCIAL SERVICES

►Access to services:Access to services: Difficult start in the beginning; smooth Difficult start in the beginning; smooth

process afterwardsprocess afterwards

►Acceptance Levels:Acceptance Levels: Central Ohio ranks high in the best Central Ohio ranks high in the best

categorycategory

►Stereotypes & MisunderstandingsStereotypes & Misunderstandings There are isolated incidents, mainly in There are isolated incidents, mainly in

schools, to learn from schools, to learn from

Civil Servants and Technocrats Civil Servants and Technocrats in the Dictatorship Erain the Dictatorship Era

►Clan-based vs. skill-basedClan-based vs. skill-based►Little or no accountability Little or no accountability ►No Policy and procedure nor No Policy and procedure nor

transparency transparency ►Great deal of power abuseGreat deal of power abuse►Bribery was a common practiceBribery was a common practice►The poor got the short end of the stickThe poor got the short end of the stick

ExpectationsExpectations

► To be treated with dignity and respectTo be treated with dignity and respect

► To be offered clarifications when necessaryTo be offered clarifications when necessary

► To be able to understand the message being To be able to understand the message being communicated tocommunicated to

Most Common Dos and Don'tsMost Common Dos and Don'ts

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

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

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

►Do converse, but don’t ask personal Do converse, but don’t ask personal things things

nor tell jokes with sexual innuendoes nor tell jokes with sexual innuendoes

Most Common Dos and Don'tsMost Common Dos and Don'ts

►Do remember that people have their Do remember that people have their own individual identities and preferencesown individual identities and preferences

►Do learn key phrases for icebreakingDo learn key phrases for icebreaking►Do compliment when necessary, but not Do compliment when necessary, but not

to the opposite gender to the opposite gender ►Do browse Somali websites Do browse Somali websites ►Do remember that hospitality is one of Do remember that hospitality is one of

the highly valued normsthe highly valued norms

Most Common Dos and Don'tsMost Common Dos and Don'ts

► Don’t talk to someone who is prayingDon’t talk to someone who is praying

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

► Don’t call someone with your fingerDon’t call someone with your finger

► Don’t try to hug someone of the opposite genderDon’t try to hug someone of the opposite gender

Most Common Dos and Don’ts Most Common Dos and Don’ts ContinueContinue

►Don’t invite someone for a meal that Don’t invite someone for a meal that contains pork contains pork

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

►Don’t tell religious jokesDon’t tell religious jokes►Don’t use foul languageDon’t use foul language

Common PhrasesCommon Phrases

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

children?)children?)

Problem-solving Problem-solving

►Traditional approach led by Traditional approach led by community elders commonly used to community elders commonly used to solve problems solve problems

►Solutions mediated by the elders are Solutions mediated by the elders are commonly acceptedcommonly accepted

► Individual problems might carry clan Individual problems might carry clan implicationimplication

Questions

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Answers