Somali Cultural Awarenes

Slideshow Transcript

1. Slide 1: Bridges of Understanding: learning the Somali Culture Abukar Arman Council on American-Islamic Relations CAIR-Ohio
2. Slide 2: SOMALIA Jamhuuriyadda Dimoqraadiga ee Soomaaliya
3. Slide 4: THE SOMALI PEOPLE
4. Slide 21: SOMALI HISTORY ► COLONIAL ERA (1884-1960) ► Cultural Characteristics  The majority are from the nomadic culture ► Religion & Values  Islam is the widely practiced religion; and people generally uphold conservative values
5. Slide 22: Religion ► Religion is part and parcel of the average individual and family life ► Religious materials and leaders are respected ► Religion is both private and public affair (Jama’ah) ► Prayers, especially the five daily ones, are offered wherever the worshipers happen to be
6. Slide 23: Cultural Values ►Language: Somali, and other tribal languages ►“Bantu” & Somalis- two faces of the same coin ►Shared nation different cultural and historical experience ►Oral culture is highly valued
7. Slide 24: COMMUNICATION ► As an oral society, Somalis give a great deal of attention to oratory and words said ► Good conversation is a lifeline to the majority ► Poetry and tribal folklore are given special attention
8. Slide 25: SOMALI IMMIGRATION ► FIRST WAVE (70’s and 80’s)  Mostly educated- they did not need assistance with resettlement ► SECOND WAVE (91-PRESENT)  Mostly under or uneducated- they needed a lot of assistance with resettlement
9. Slide 26: Somali Immigration Continued… ► Refugee Camps:  Harsh life- very tough for children, mothers, and elders ► Resettlement Process:  Life-saving opportunity  Families could request to reunite with loved ones
10. Slide 27: LIFE IN THE NEW WORLD ► FAMILY AND SOCIAL ISSUES ► Second Generation & “1 ½ Generation” ► Communication and Cultural Gaps in the Family ► Stereotyping ► Community Relations & Conflict resolution ► Nomadic Instincts
11. Slide 28: LIFE IN THE NEW WORLD Hard Work & Persistence
12. Slide 29: Education ► Culturally, education is widely seen as a ticket out of poverty ► Many of second and 1 ½ generations are enrolling in colleges and universities ► Due to lack of language skills, parents have a limited capacity to help their children with school work
13. Slide 30: SOCIAL SERVICES ► Access to services:  Difficult start in the beginning; smooth process afterwards ► Acceptance Levels:  Central Ohio ranks high in the best category ► Stereotypes & Misunderstandings  There are isolated incidents, mainly in schools, to learn from
14. Slide 31: Civil Servants and Technocrats in the Dictatorship Era ► Clan-based vs. skill-based ► Little or no accountability ► No Policy and procedure nor transparency ► Great deal of power abuse ► Bribery was a common practice ► The poor got the short end of the stick
15. Slide 32: Expectations ► To be treated with dignity and respect ► To be offered clarifications when necessary ► Tobe able to understand the message being communicated to
16. Slide 33: Most Common Dos and Don'ts ► Do greet, but don’t shake hands with the opposite sex unless they initiate that ► Do visit homes when necessary, but don’t bang on doors ► Do come in when invited, but don’t come in with your shoes on ► Do converse, but don’t ask personal things nor tell jokes with sexual innuendoes
17. Slide 34: Most Common Dos and Don'ts ► Do remember that people have their own individual identities and preferences ► Do learn key phrases for icebreaking ► Do compliment when necessary, but not to the opposite gender ► Do browse Somali websites ► Do remember that hospitality is one of the highly valued norms
18. Slide 35: Most Common Dos and Don'ts ► Don’t talk to someone who is praying ► Don’t pass in front of someone while he/she is praying [if you must, try to put something between the two of you] ► Don’t call someone with your finger ► Don’t try to hug someone of the opposite gender
19. Slide 36: Most Common Dos and Don’ts Continue ► Don’t invite someone for a meal that contains pork ► Don’t invite someone for a beer or any alcoholic drinks ► Don’t tell religious jokes ► Don’t use foul language
20. Slide 37: Common Phrases ► Iskawarran? (How are you?) ► Maalin wanaagsan (Good morning) ► Galab wanaagsan (Good afternoon) ► Habeen wanaagsan (Good evening) ► Magacaa? (What is your name?) ► Halkeed degantahay? (Where do you live?) ► Caruur ma leedahay? (Do you have any children?)
21. Slide 38: Problem-solving ► Traditional approach led by community elders commonly used to solve problems ► Solutions mediated by the elders are commonly accepted ► Individual problems might carry clan implication
22. Slide 39: Questions & Answers