NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Culture of Somalia

Islam and poetry have been described as the twin pillars of Somali culture. The clan structure and the nomadic lifestyle are also major influences. The vast majority of Somalis are Sunni Muslims. ... The Somali language (Af Soomaali) is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family. ... Somalia (Somali: Soomaaliya) is a coastal nation in East Africa, widely known as Horn of Africa. ... Chopper scene from the Movie Rajo. ... Somalia has the distinction of being one of only a handful of African countries that are composed almost entirely of one ethnic group, the Somalis. ... Somalia produced a large amount of literature through Islamic poetry and Hadith from Somali Scholars of the last centuries to modern fiction from present day Somali writers which have received widespread success respectivly. ... Cuisine of Somalia varies from region to region and it encompasses different styles of cooking. ... A Somali rancher herds cattle in Kismayo. ... The Somali National Army was, up until 1991, made up of the army, navy, air force, and air defense command. ... The board used for Shax. ... The Somali national anthem, Somalia, Wake Up, was composed by Ali Mire Awale-July 1947. ... The Somali shilling (shilin soomaali) is the currency used in the African nation of Somalia. ... The holidays in Somalia: Somalia uses two calendar systems: the Gregorian calendar primarily, but the Islamic calendar for religious holidays. ... For the 2006 historical epic set in Kazakhstan, see Nomad (2006 film). ...

Language

See also: Somali language, Languages of Somalia
The Somali language (Af Soomaali) is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

Nearly all Somalis speak the same language, Somali which belongs to a set of languages called lowland Eastern Cushitic spoken by peoples living in Ethiopia, Somalia, Somaliland Djibouti, and Kenya. Eastern Cushitic is one section of the Cushitic language family, which in turn is part of the great Afro-Asiatic stock. The East Cushitic languages comprise more than thirty languages belonging to the Cushitic family within the Afro-Asiatic phylum. ... Map showing the distribution of Afro-Asiatic languages The Afro-Asiatic languages are a language family of about 240 languages and 285 million people widespread throughout North Africa, East Africa, the Sahel, and Southwest Asia. ...

The main Somali dialect which is the most widely used is Common Somali, a term applied to several subdialects, the speakers of which can understand each other easily. Common Somali is spoken in most of Somalia and in adjacent territories (Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti), and is used by broadcasting stations in Somalia.

Facility with language is highly valued in Somali society; the capability of a suitor, a warrior, or a political or religious leader is judged in part by his verbal adroitness. In such a society, oral poetry becomes an art, and one's ability to compose verse in one or more of its several forms enhances one's status. Speakers in political or religious assemblies and litigants in courts traditionally were expected to use poetry or poetic proverbs. Even everyday talk tended to have a terse, vivid, poetic style, characterized by carefully chosen words, condensed meaning, and alliteration. For other uses, see Society (disambiguation). ... Oral poetry is a form of poetry that is transmitted orally and memorized rather than written down. ... This article is about the philosophical concept of Art. ...

In the pre-revolutionary era, English became dominant in the school system and in government. However, the overarching issue was the development of a socioeconomic stratum based on mastery of a foreign language. The relatively small proportion of Somalis (less than 10 percent) with a grasp of such a language--preferably English--had access to government positions and the few managerial or technical jobs in modern private enterprises. Such persons became increasingly isolated from their nonliterate Somali-speaking brethren, but because the secondary schools and most government posts were in urban areas the socioeconomic and linguistic distinction was in large part a rural-urban one. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Students in Rome, Italy. ... For other uses, see System (disambiguation). ... A foreign language is a language not spoken by the indigenous people of a certain place: for example, English is a foreign language in Japan. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Students in Rome, Italy. ...

Even before the 1969 revolution, Somalis had become aware of social stratification and the growing distance, based on language and literacy differences, between ordinary Somalis and those in government. The 1972 decision to designate an official Somali Latin script and require its use in government demolished the language barrier and an important obstacle to rapid literacy growth. Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Somali language (Af Soomaali) is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family. ...

In the years following the institution of the Somali Latin script, Somali officials were required to learn the orthography and attempts were made to inculcate mass literacy--in 1973 among urban and rural sedentary Somalis, and in 1974-75 among nomads. Although a few texts existed in the new script before 1973, in most cases new books were prepared presenting the government's perspective on Somali history and development. Somali scholars also succeeded in developing a vocabulary to deal with a range of subjects from mathematics and physics to administration and ideology. The orthography of a language specifies the correct way of using a specific writing system to write the language. ... Communities of nomadic people move from place to place, rather than settling down in one location. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... A vocabulary is a set of words known to a person or other entity, or that are part of a specific language. ... For other meanings of mathematics or uses of math and maths, see Mathematics (disambiguation) and Math (disambiguation). ... A magnet levitating above a high-temperature superconductor demonstrates the Meissner effect. ... Look up Administration (business) in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Political Ideologies Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box: An ideology is an organized collection of ideas. ...

Religion

See also: Islam in Somalia The vast majority of Somalis are Sunni Muslims. ...

It is estimated that northern Somalis began converting to Islam around the 7th century. Image File history File linksMetadata Opened_Qur'an. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Opened_Qur'an. ... The QurÄn [1] (Arabic: , literally the recitation; also called The Noble Quran; also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and Al-Quran), is the central religious text of Islam. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ...

Almost all Somalis are Sunni Muslims and Islam is vitally important to the Somali sense of national identity, though traces of pre-Islamic traditional religion exist in Somalia. Many of the Somali social norms come from their religion. For example, men shake hands only with men, and women shake hands with women. Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ...

Many Somali women cover their heads and bodies with a brightly-coloured hijab when they are in public. In addition, Somalis abstain from pork, gambling, and alcohol, and receiving or paying any form of interest. â€œHigabâ€ redirects here. ... For other uses, see Pork (disambiguation). ... Caravaggio, The Cardsharps, c. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Most Somalis don't belong to a specific mosque or sect and can pray in any mosque they find. Celebrations come in the form of religious festivities, two of the most important being Eid al Adha and Eid al Fitr which marks the end of the fasting month. Families get dressed up to visit one another. If they can afford it, money is donated to the poor. Eid ul-Adha (Arabic: Ø¹ÙŠØ¯ Ø§Ù„Ø£Ø¶ØÙ‰) occurs on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijja. ... The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) marks the end of Ramadan. ...

Clan system and marriage

See also: Somali clan This 2002 CIA map shows the distribution of Somali clan populations across the Somali homelands, and their percentages within Somalia: Hawiye (25%), Isaaq (22%), Darod (20%), Rahanweyn (17%), Dir (7%), Digil (3%), and ethnic minorities (6%) Somali clan refers to the clan grouping of the Somali people. ...

Somali society is organized into clan families, which range from 100,000 to over one million in size. The six main clans are: Darod, Isaaq, Hawiye, Dir, Digil, and Rahanweyn. There are also a number of smaller clan groups. Each of the large clan families is divided into lineage units, typically ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 members. It is possible for Somalis to know how they are related simply by giving their name and clan membership. For other uses, see Clan (disambiguation). ... The Darod (Somali language: Darood, or Daarood) is a Somali clan. ... The tomb of Sheikh Isaq, the father of the Isaq tribe The Isaaq (also Isaq, Ishaak) (Somali language: Reer Sheik Isaxaaq); is one of the main Somali clans. ... Hawiye is a Somali clan whose members live in central and southern Somalia, in larger numbers in Kenya and Ethiopia, and in smaller numbers in other countries. ... Dir is a Somali clan whose members live mostly in northern Somalia, central (Mudug), Ethiopias Somali region 5, and Southern Somalia. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Rahanweyn (Somali Maay: Reewing) is a Somali clan, composed of two major sub-clans, the Digil and the Mirifle. ...

Somalis deeply value the family with the strength of family ties providing a safety net in times of need and suffering.

Arranged marriages are common in Somalia. In the case of arranged marriages, the bride is usually much younger than the groom. Marriage to a cousin from the mother's side of the family (of a different lineage) is traditionally favored to strengthen family alliance, but this practice is not as common as earlier. Virginity is valued in women prior to marriage. In addition, divorce is legal in Somalia. Romantic marriages are becoming more common and are now the majority of marriages in Somalia. But even these choices are influenced by the partner's clan. Marriage Ã -la-mode by William Hogarth: a satire on arranged marriages and prediction of ensuing disaster An arranged marriage is a marriage that is established before involving oneself in a lengthy courtship, and often involves the arrangement of someone other than the persons getting married. ... Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the ending of a marriage before the death of either spouse. ...

Other Cultural Practices

Somalia is one of the leading practitioners of female genital mutilation followed by Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Mali. The Somalis hold the belief that girls are made "pure" by having their genitals cut out. If this procedure isn't performed the girls are shunned by their society which believes that the girls will be possessed by demons, fall into vice, and become prostitutes. The procedure generally takes place when girls reach the age of five. The excision is usually performed by a man, usually using nothing more than scissors.^{[citation needed]} It is extremely painful and traumatizing to the child. The girl's genitals (labia and clitoris) are carved out, scraped off or, in more liberal clans, merely cut or pricked. After the procedure is performed the area is sewn up and a scar forms over where the vagina used to be (infibulation). A small hole is left for the girl to urinate and menstruate through. This, according to the practitioners, ensures that the girl is a virgin on her wedding night. Many girls die from infection after this procedure. This ethnic practice predates Islam, nevertheless it is generally justified through the religion by the practitioners.^[1] Not all Somali girls engage in this cultural procedure. Female circumcision (including excision) loosely refers to a number of procedures performed on the female genitalia and which are generally of a cultural, rather than medical, nature. ... Parts of a vulva The external genital organs of the female are collectively known as the vulva (also sometimes called the pudenda). ... The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present in biologically female mammals. ... The vagina, (from Latin, literally sheath or scabbard ) is the tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. ... Infibulation, in its modern use of the word, is the practice of surgical closure of the female labia majora by sewing them together to seal off the female genitalia, leaving only a small hole for the passage of urine and menstrual blood. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ...

References

Categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since August 2007 | Somali culture The Country Studies are works published by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress ( USA), freely available for use by researchers. ... The U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1789 by a constitutional convention, sets down the basic framework of American government in its seven articles. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... The Culture of Africa encompasses and includes all cultures which were ever in the continent of Africa. ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... Two key elements of the culture of Burkina Faso are masks and dancing. ... Cape Verde is known internationally for morna, a form of folk music usually sung in creole-Portuguese, accompanied by clarinet, accordion, violin, guitar and cavaquinho. ... The culture of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reflects the diversity of its hundreds of ethnic groups and their differing ways of life throughout the countryâ€”from the mouth of the River Congo on the coast, upriver through the rainforest and savanna in its centre, to the more densely... The culture of CÃ´te dIvoire is ethnically diverse. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... There is no single Culture of South Africa. ... A dependent territory, dependent area or dependency is a territory that does not possess full political independence or sovereignty as a State. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Types of administrative and/or political territories include: A legally administered territory, which is a non-sovereign geographic area that has come under the authority of another government. ... // Somali History The origins of the Somalis and their time of entry into present-day Somalia has been debated, with Somalis claiming descent from Arabian families who settled on the coast 1,000 years ago, and historians tracing the origins to pre-15th century. ...

Contents

Religion

Clan system and marriage

Other Cultural Practices

References