Somalia's UNIQUE Way of Life :)

A Nation's CULTURE Lies in the HEARTS & SOULS of its PEOPLE!

SYMBOL OF ALLAH

RELIGION: 

Religion is one of the most important things in Somalia and they dedicate their whole life to Allah. Most Somalis are Sunni Muslims, interested in spiritual communication with Allah.  

 Religious Beliefs:

• Believe in the worshiping of Somali saints and mortal spirits called jinn, which can cause misfortune, illness, and can help humans

• Believe the poor, weak, or injured have special spiritual powers given by Allah, and so they act kind towards them in hopes that they will not use this power against them. For More Info: SOMALI RELIGION

Rituals and Holy Places:

  Mosques, which is were they pray, are found in ALL Somali cities and towns. Men and women pray and study the Qur'an separately. Somalis are to pray 5 times each day, facing Mecca. They should recite the creed of Islam and give to the poor, if able. They should make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once and should  perform the fast of Ramadan. 

I chose THIS picture of the Qur'an BECAUSE: Although their religion is supposed to be peaceful, Somalia has A LOT of violence and it CONTRADICTS ITSELF!

Death and the Afterlife:

Somalis believe that a tree representing all Muslims grows at the boundary between Earth and Heaven and that each person is represented by a leaf on the tree. It is said that those whose leaves fall off will die within the coming year.

When a Somali dies, feasting and celebration are held. A Somali wife must stay secluded at home for four months and ten days, in respect to her husband’s death.

Somalis hold the Muslim view that EACH person will be JUDGED by ALLAH in the AFTERLIFE.

LANGUAGE: 

       

             In 1969, they finally had a debate over the country's writing system. The Latin alphabet was finally adopted in 1972 and Somali was made the official language of Somalia. .Shire Jama Ahmed  is responsible for the invention of this spelling system, and  was chosen from among eighteen competing orthographies.  Their dialects differ depending on the clan family divisions. The Latin script also was able to replace the use of English and Italian in newspapers and public documents. It is used in all schools. However, Arabic, English, and Italian are all still widely spoken and understood.

SOMALI LATIN ALPHABET, has 21 CONSONANTS and 5 VOWELS.

For more info: Somali Language 

DANCE & MUSIC:

Somali and music consists of a combination between the tender melodies of the nomads, the explosive hot drumbeats of black Africa and just a little colorful instrumental accompaniment. This music is a very young, happy, festival, and up beat music.

FAMOUS SINGER FROM SOMALIA, K'NAAN:  K'naan became very famous with his song 'Wavin Flag' accompanied by David Bisbal in the World Cup of 2010.

Islamic Holidays: 

Holidays are celebrated with feasting and storytelling, visiting graves, giving to the poor, parades, plays, and ceremonies.

-Ramadan: Is the month of fasting and anyone in good health over the age of 15 is required to fast.Muslims believe that a person who dies while fasting during Ramadan is especially blessed by Allah.  Fasting is obligatory during Ramadan, but it is also practiced among Somalis at any time of the year if they want more spiritual purification. Many Somalis fast for one day or more at least every month.

-They also celebrate Independence Day on 26 June, the Foundation of the Republic on 1 July, and at the beginning of August they hold a New Year celebration called Dab-Shid (Fire-Lighting) when they light a stick and jump over the fire.

GREETINGS and ETIQUETTE:

Somali Women Generally DON'T Socialize with MEN in Public Places.
  
Somalis offer a milky tea and burn incense to welcome visitors. Men of the same clan-family then share a long handshake. Women greet one another informally and may hug and kiss one another on the cheek, but can NOT  shake hands with the opposite sex.. Members of unrelated clan-families do not shake hands or exchange intimacies.

Verbal Greetings:

• 

  "THUMBS UP"considered BAD

   Assalam Alaikum (Peace be upon you)  
• Subah wanaagsan (Good morning) 
• Galab wanaagsan (Good afternoon) 
• Habeeb wanaagsan (Good night)
  Gestures 
  Somali use sweeping hand and arm gestures to dramatize speech. Some examples are:

•  A swift twist of the open hand means "nothing" or "no".
•  A thumb under the chin indicates "fullness".
•  It is impolite to point the sole of one's foot or shoe at another person.
•  It is impolite to use the index finger to call somebody; (gesture used for calling dogs)

 ART:

HENNA is done on Somali Women for their MARRIAGE.

HEADREST

Headrests are used by men and women while sleeping to preven any attack by snakes or scorpions. They also play an important role on the wedding night, because the groom places the tubash (a sum of money) under the bride's headrest. The morning after the marriage is consummated, the bride uses this money to buy an amber necklace, the symbol of her new status.

POETRY:

Somalis are most famous for being a nation of poets and story telling. Oral poetry is central to Somali life.Probably the best-known Somali poet is spiritual and military leader Muhammad Abdullah Hasań, leader of the Muslim Dervishes. 

HOW DO THEY DRESS IN SOMALIA??

WOMEN  COMMONLY WEAR:

• Direh, a long, billowing dress worn over petticoats
• Coantino, a four-yard cloth tied over shoulder and draped around the waist
• Toob, commonly worn throughout Africa.
• Hijab, and head scarfs are very common

RULES FOR WOMEN:

In Somalia Culture it is a crime for any Somali woman to come in public without wearing the 'hijab' or the veil. A violation on the part of the women can lead the Somali women to death.

 Women in the Arabic society of Somalia are meant to do nothing but look after the household and the children, very little percent of them are educated.Somali women have begun campaigning for their own rights and have also joined the politics of Somalia. Somali women have not only restricted their campaigns to the level of human rights but have also played considerable role in the peace keeping of the country. They have also lent a helping hand in the nation-building process of Somalia.

For MORE Info: SOMALI WOMEN

MEN WEAR:

Men wear western pants or a flowing plaid ma'awis, western shirts, and shawls. Also on their heads they may wrap a colorful turban or wear a koofiyad (embroidered cap).

FOOD:

Family meal is still the norm in Somalia. Frying is the most common method of cooking, but for nomads and farmers, cooking is usually done over an outdoors fire or in a communal cooking hut, because homes are large enough only for sleeping. 

Somali meals are meat driven, vegetarians are very rare. Lamb or goat meat is considered the best meat to eat. Tea is the most common drink with lots of sugar. Drinking 4-6 cups of sweet tea a day is common. Homemade cakes are often eaten as snacks.

 Other common foods include a type of homemade bread called anjara (it looks like a large, spongy pancake); black tea sweetened with milk and sugar; and sambusas, which are deep-fried triangular-shaped dumplings usually filled with meat or vegetables.

In accordance with the Muslim faith, they do not eat pork or drink alcohol. Milk, tea, coffee, and water are favorite drinks.

   

At home it is customary for women to serve the men first, and then eat with their children after the men have finished. Rural Somalis eat by scooping food from a bowl with the first three fingers of their right hand or with a spoon (as in many other Muslim and African cultures, the left hand is considered unclean because it is used for washing the body). Aolled banana leaf also may be used for scooping.