Somali people
| File:Somalis.JPG | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Somalia: 9,950,000[1] Ethiopia: 4,620,000[1] | |
| Languages | |
| Somali | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Oromo, Jeberti, Afar, Sidama, Saho, Bilen, Agaw and Beja |
The Somalis are an ethnic group located in the northeast portion of the Horn of Africa adjacent to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. The majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic subgroup of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Ethnic Somalis number around 15-6 million and are principally concentrated in Somalia (over 9 million)[2], Ethiopia (4-5 million), northeast Kenya (over 400,000, some due to migration), Djibouti (250,000), and an unknown but large number living in non-east African countries and parts of the Middle East, the United States and Europe.
History
Somalia has experienced a turbulent past and as such the history of the Somalis is one that is fraught with a great deal of indigenous speculation. Most historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, and other researchers believe that the modern Somalis are descendants of migrants from the northwest in what is today Ethiopia, while others support theories that include an indigenous origin for most Somalis. The Somalis, as a Cushitic-speaking people form a part of a diverse continuum of the larger Afro-Asiatic peoples, but do bear close ties to other Eastern Cushitic peoples including the Oromo, Afar, and Sidama.
Numerous old theories regarding origins in Arabia and other places, in part based upon local beliefs, have largely been discarded as increasing evidence now supports a more indigenous Somali existence in the region that can be traced back to the 1st millennium BCE.[3] The ancient ancestors of the Somali people appear to have split off from an early Cushitic group, whose geographic origins remain largely speculative, and are referred to as the Sam who were themselves a sub-type of the Omo-Tana and are believed to have lived in an area roughly corresponding to modern northern Kenya and southern Somalia over 2,000 years ago. These proto-Sam peoples evolved into the bulk of the Somalis as the Sam transitioned into Somaal and later the Somali people. The Somali people are believed to have moved into the Zeila region by at least 750 CE and then expanded into all of what is today Somalia by displacing the Oromo.
While it is surmised that the Somalis were most likely divided between early Christian communities influenced by the Amhara and pagan tribes, it was the coming of Arab traders in the 10th century CE that would significantly shape much of modern Somali culture. Trading communities founded by Arabs and Persians dotted the entire coast of the Horn of Africa and significantly altered Somali society as the vast majority converted to Islam. Arabic culture greatly influenced the Somalis as their language borrowed a significant amount of Arabic vocabulary and came to be written using Arabic script. Due to the conversion of the Somalis to Islam, conflict with the neighboring Christians of Ethiopia led to numerous wars from the 13th to the 16th century. Arab domination of the coast continued with Omani rule starting in the 16th century as a trade network spanning much of the Arabian Sea from Zanzibar to Arabia made Somalia an important center of early trade. In-spite of Arab rule along the coast, the Somali tribes of the interior exercised almost total independence and often raided the coastal settlements until the Arabs began to withdraw by the 19th century. Egypt and Britain both attempted to colonize Somalia with the British having been successful in forming a protectorate over northern Somaliland. Italy later claimed the southern portions of Somalia.
Following decades of British and Italian rule, the fiercely independent Somalis formed their own independent state in 1960, but one that obviously emerged having been influenced by all of its interactions with both local neighbors and distant colonial powers.
Genetics
Genetic genealogy, although a new tool that uses the genes of modern populations to trace their ethnic and geographic origins has also helped pinpoint the possible background of the modern Somalis. According to one prominent study published in the European Journal of Human Genetics, the Somalis appear to be more indigenous than previously believed:
- The data suggest that the male Somali population is a branch of the East African population − closely related to the Oromos in Ethiopia and North Kenya − with predominant E3b1 cluster lineages that were introduced into the Somali population 4000−5000 years ago, and that the Somali male population has approximately 15% Y chromosomes from Eurasia and approximately 5% from sub-Saharan Africa.[4]
Generally, it is believed that most population movements involve male invaders and an indigenous Somali population, of the same general type as the Ethiopid may been established millennia ago with distinct characteristics that link them to all of their neighbors. This data points towards moderate paternal contributions from genetical Eurasian populations, most likely those of Arabian and North African origin. Genetic studies also show that there are not any substantial genetic variations between the Amhara of Ethiopia and their Cushitic neighbors, which, if the Semitic branch did not originate in the Horn of Africa, suggests substantial lingustic replacement rather than a large mass invasion from Arabia or elsewhere as an explanation for the languages of the Amhara and other Semitic-speaking peoples in Ethiopia. Overall, the Somalis genetically cluster with their neighbors in the Horn of Africa and represent a unique sub-group of the region. This examines that Somali people, and those in Horn of Africa are not of the negroid race.[5]
The East African people (i.e. in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia) may also be the last remnants of the Ancient Egyptians based on hieroglyphics of Egyptians depicting themselves having "reddish brown" skin, something Somalis exhibit in varying hues.[6]
Geographic distribution
Somalis comprise the majority of Somalia's population at approximately 85% of the total. They are traditionally a nomadic ethnic group, but since the late twentieth century, many have moved to the cities. The majority of Somalis can be found between the Jubba and Shabelle Rivers in various cities and towns. Other large Somali populations are found mainly in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti.
Somali diaspora
The Somali civil war led to the Somali diaspora, where most of the best educated Somalis left for Northern Europe and America
In Europe, the distribution of Somalis by country is about 200 000 in the UK there are no good statistics out for Somalis in the UK because many Somalis from other european countries have moved there since 1995. Netherlands: 21,733 (2005); Norway: 16,765 (2005); Denmark: 16,564 (2006); Sweden: 15,294 (2004)
In the United Kingdom London, Sheffield, Birmingham, Cardiff and Leicester are home to the largest concentration of Somalis.
In North America, Toronto, Minneapolis, Columbus, Ohio, Washington, DC, Ottawa, Seattle, Atlanta, and San Diego have the largest Somali populations, although they are scattered throughout the continent in small numbers. [5]
Between 1992 and 2005, 64,439 persons born in Somalia were admitted to the United States as refugees, which was the vast majority of total emigration from Somalia during that period. Unlike the European figures, however, this statistic does not include US-born children. (Source: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services)
Clan structure
Somalis are split up into many clans and sub-clans, including but not limited to the following major clans:
Genealogical claims are an important part of Somali tradition and can appear to outsiders as a form of xenophobic isolation. [7] Loyalty to one's clan is important and in Somalia it often supersedes any central government authority.
Somali nationalism often relates to ancestral claims of a biblical and Quranic nature as most Somalis claim some sort of relationship with ancient Near Eastern religious figures and peoples. A hierarchical system exists as competing groups claim varying degrees of important ancient ancestral ties. These differing claims of ancestral origin have been historically used by imperialists such as the British and Italians to divide the Somalis and the civil war of the 1980s corresponded to this somewhat artificial ethnic cleavage between the Isaaq clan and southern Somalis. These tribal rivalries have continued to afflict the Somali people into the 21st century as no central government has managed to unite the disparate and sometimes hostile tribes.
Culture and society
Many Somalis believe that they descend from a common ancestor called Samaal. Culturally even disparate tribes share the common traits that unite Somalis including their language, religion, culture and history.
Modern wars have led to substantial deterioration in Somali life. Refugees have streamed out of the country and national health and human services have become largely absent except in Somaliland, which since independence in 1991 has managed to create some measure of stability while at the same time attempting to break away from the country of Somalia.
Many Somalis continue to subsist upon agricultural and pastoral livlihoods as trade remains fairly limited. Due to the relatively arid conditions found throughout much of the Horn of Africa, water and irrigation are crucial to farming and the various internecine wars have ravaged much of the country's infrastructure and led to famines. Due to the turmoil experienced by various civil wars, the average Somali life expectancy hovers around 46 years.[8]
Education remains an important consideration for most Somalis, but, according to the CIA Factbook, only about 37.8% of the country is believed to be literate.[9] Clan rivalry, a rise in religious fundamentalism, and gender discrimination are some factors that continue to hamper Somali society as well.
There has been a great deal of concern sparked by Somali youth born abroad and losing touch with their culture and homeland. A lot of these youths live in various Western countries and it is not uncommon to see the great majority of them with an under-average grasp of the Somali language and what may be seen as a disdainful attitude towards Islam as a tradional, as well as a central, force in the typical Somali household. A lot of these Westernized children of Somalia (especially those living in the US, England, and Canada) grow use to, and gradually adopt Western culture as their own. As they are more deeply assimilated into their adopted country's culture, they begin to lose touch with their native culture. In the majority of cases, this entails deteriorating Somali language skills, lack of knowledge regarding Somali customs, lack of respect for Somali tradition, and the rejection of Islam.
There has been considearble debate among concerned parents of Somali youth. The most common strategy to prevent what is seen as a complete rejection of Somali values, customs, beliefs, and religion has been to immediately send the 'troubled child' to relatives living in the Somali homeland. The sheer violence and destruction that has plagued the country does not seem to deter the efforts of the parents of these Somali youth.
However, like other youths in western societies, some are doing very well and hard working. There is also an influx of Somalis just coming from Africa who, with their basic English, are doing very well in their classes. Many go to high ranked Universities and obtain various degrees in various backgrounds.
Somalis also face various discriminations. In the West, there is a huge Islamaphobic attitude towards Muslims in general. Plus, Somalis also face discriminations from fellow Africans for their business savvy skills and their appearence of looking "different" from other Africans and African Americans. An example of this is the violence against Somalis in South Africa.[10]
Religion
Somalis are predominantly Sunni Muslim.
References
- Ethnologue population estimates for Somali speakers
- US Library of Congress Country Study of Somalia
- European Journal of Human Genetics-High frequencies of Y chromosome lineages characterized by E3b1, DYS19-11, DYS392-12 in Somali males
- American Journal of Human Genetics-The Making of the African mtDNA Landscape
- Somali Planet Networks