Somali Culture and Belief

I. ORIGIN OF SOMALI CULTURE

The origin of Somali culture is from Islamic tradition and from their ancestors. If the culture is corning from the Islamic tradition is unchangeable especially when it is related to the faith. The tradition, however, is changeable if it is harmful to the life of person. In this essay, I will be discussing how Somali students can be successful students in the American education system without rejecting their culture. In my discussion, I will try to build a home that can peacefully meet and live in both the American education system and Somali culture. I am going to talk about traditions that may create barriers that can affect on the life of the Somali students. In other words, traditions, which may have, impact on the success of Somali students in this new environment. In my essay, you will read that most of the elements of Somali tradition have roots from their religion as other people's cultures do. All my discussion will be based on my knowledge and experience of both Somali culture and American education system. In my essay, I will also address the meaning of dress, food, prayer, greeting in Somali culture and other important elements of the tradition. I will talk about how Somali students see the American schools. I believe understanding the Somali culture related to the behavior of Somali students will be very helpful tools to the American school staff who want to help Somali students reach their educational goal.

II. DRESS IN SOMALI TRADITION

In Islamic tradition, the form of dress is important for Somali women and men. For example, Women should wear HIJAB which is a dress that covers the body except for the hands and face. Men should also wear clothes that cover the body between waist and knees according to the tradition. They should both start dressing this way when they are between seven and nine years old. Somali parents teach their kids how to dress before they reach the age of maturity or puberty. With these traditions in mind, Somali families have the following expectations from the American schools:
a) That the schools should separate the girls from the boys when they have mixed or body-touching activities such as swimming class.
b)  That the schools should allow the Somali girls to dress in uniforms that reflect their culture if the school has uniforms.
c) That the schools should give options to the students, especially girls, about any activity related to dress, for example, playing baseball or going to the school gym with sports dress. This should not be obligatory for the girls who do not want to participate.
d) That the schools should consult with students’ parents should any conflict related to dress come up.
The families have a high expectation from the American schools especially with things related to the culture and religion. Somali parents expect that the schools will consult them about their children's activities and education in schools.

III. FOOD IN SOMALI TRADITION

Like the dress, food is important in Somali culture and religion. Because of the Islamic tradition, it is prohibited to eat any food related to pork and alcohol. Therefore, parents expect from the school to listen to the following advice:
a) The school should send home the school's menu for the month.
b) The school should know basic information about students cultural food in order to serve them better.
c) The school should give out Somali translated menu which help students get the meaning of some American foods. For example, the meaning of hot dog should be translated to the Somali language. One time in our school we had a Somali student who didn't have her lunch in the school for almost one week. When a teacher asked the student why she didn't eat the school lunch, she answered that American students eat dogs and I don't.
Then, the teacher called me for help.  I found out that the student's brother read the menu of HOT DOG and told his sister not to eat the school lunch because American students eat dogs. This misunderstanding and ethnocentrism from both cultures could cause students and their families to have many concerns about anything related to the school lunch. Therefore, it is good to have a translated menu if it is possible.

VIII. TRADITIONAL GREETINGS

Every culture has its own way of greeting. Like other Muslims who practice Islam, men don't shake a woman's hand for greeting except if they are spouses. The Somali women don't shake men's hands either. Therefore, some students and their parents may have difficulties when they meet Americans who don't know this tradition. They can't explain this matter because of language barriers. Therefore, they prefer not to come to school meetings. Again, this culture clash could be avoided if each cultural group educate other group in order to have plat form that can meet both cultures in positive way.

IX. FEMALE CIRCUMCISION

Somali girls go through the process of female circumcision after they are born. This custom came originally from Egypt and it is one of the bad sides of Somali custom. After 1980, the old government tried to outlaw this practice but people were still practicing it underground. In short, this practice means to remove the clitoris and surrounding part of a girl's private parts. This practice doesn't t relate to the Islamic tradition at all. Now, in many places, many Somali families fight against this practice. This practice has impact on the life of Somali girl especially the period time. Not only they miss classes but also they become sick about three to seven days in every month. Therefore, schools should consider the situation of circumcised girls.

X. PETS AND SOMALIS

In Islamic tradition, Muslims are prohibited to touch the Saliva of dog. Once the person's hand touches the saliva of dog, he or she should wash her/his hand seven times before they pray. Although one can touch the body of dog, Somalis do not even like to be close to dogs as custom. Somali people may escape from dogs in order to protect their ablution for prayer otherwise it is invalidated. They avoid dogs as much as possible.