Provides an introduction to the history, culture, and people of Somali for community service providers and others assisting refugees in the United States. One million Somali refugees live scattered around the world, primarily in neighboring countries in East Africa and in the Middle East, but also in Europe and North America. In the mid-1980s, small numbers of Somalis were admitted to the United States as refugees, but their numbers grew in 1990 as a result of the civil war in their home country. The largest concentrations of Somali refugees have resettled in New York, Washington, DC, Boston, Los Angeles, San Diego, Atlanta, and Detroit. This report covers: (1) the origins of the Somali people as well as the geography and economy of Somali; (2) Somali’s history, including colonial occupation, independence, the revolutionary regime of Siyaad Barre, clan rivalries and border conflicts, and civil war; (3) social structure and gender roles; (4) language and literacy; (5) education; (6) knowledge of English values; (7) religion; (8) art, poetry, and song; (9) food and dress; (10) different naming conventions; and (11) the Somali language, include its pronunciation, grammar, use of proverbs, and basic expressions and vocabulary.
