Culture

Clan System

Somali society is organised into clan families, which range from 100,000 to over one million in size. The six main clans are:

• Isaaq
• Darod
• Hawiye
• DirDigil
• 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.

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

Marriage

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 favoured to strengthen family alliance, but this practice is not as common as in earlier times. Virginity is valued in women prior to marriage, and Somalia is one of the leading practitioners of female genital mutilation (carried out in the belief that this will this will make the girls "pure"). In addition, divorce is legal in Somalia.

However, romantic marriages are becoming more common and are now the majority of marriages in Somalia. But even these choices are usually influenced by the partner's clan.

Cuisine

The cuisine of Somalia varies from region to region and it encompasses many different styles of cooking. However, one aspect unites the Somali food is that it must be halal; no pork dishes, no alcohol, nothing that died on its own is eaten and no dishes that have blood incorporated.

Traditionally, the main meal of the day is eaten at lunchtime and Somali people usually begin their day with a flat bread called canjeero, toast, cereal or porridge made of millet or cornmeal. Lunch can be a mix of rice or noodles with meat and sauce, and may also consist of a traditional soup called maraq, made of vegetables, meat and beans and usually eaten with flat bread or pitta bread.

Later in the day, a lighter meal is served which includes beans, Ful medames, muufo (patties made of oats or corn), Hummus or a salad with more canjeera.

Somali people serve dinner as late as 9 pm. During Ramadan, it is often eaten after Tarawih prayers - sometimes as late as 11 pm. Cambuulo is one of the more popular dishes , and is made out of well-cooked azuki beans, mixed with butter and sugar. The beans (digir) are often left on the stove at low heat for as many as five hours.

A minority of Somalis drink Turkish coffee which they brought from Arab countries to their homeland. Somalis also drink a traditional and cultural tea known as Shah Hawaash, made of cardamom and cinnamon barks.

More details on Somali cuisine can be found in the Food and Drink section.

Music

Traditional bands such as Waaberi Horseed have gained a small following outside the country. Others, like Maryam Mursal, have fused Somali traditional music with rock, bossa nova, hip hop and jazz influences. Most Somali music is love orientated, but some recall how life was in Somalia before the Somali Civil War and some talk about how Somalis should come together to unite and restore the country to its former glory.

Henna Art

An important form of art in Somalia is henna painting (Somali: cilaan). The Henna plant is widely grown across the region and it was Arab merchants and settlers that first brought the art of henna or cilaan painting, in early Somalia. During special occasions, Somali girls and women usually apply or decorate their hands and feet in decorative cilaan, the design of which can range from very simple to highly intricate. However, unlike Pakistani, Indian or Bangladeshi henna designs, the Somali and Arab designs tend to be more modern and simple.