Juba I have almost all of Magool songs (liyrics) but this one that u are asking I dont know, are u sure its called "Shimbir heysaa?".......

A) Sidee Loo Kobcin karaa dhaqaalaha Soomaaliya? B) Maxaysu tahay sida ugu habboon ee dhaqaalaha dalka sare loogu soo Qaadikaraa? C) Intee madax bannaani ah ayaa la siin karaa Ganacsatashaaya Soomaaliyeed? (Free Market)Maxayse tahay roleka ay Dowladdu ka cayaari karaysa maamulidda waxa soo galaya dalka? (Imports) Fadlan ra'yigaada ka dhiibo arintan. Wabillaah:............

Eagles all the way Superbowl for the phillis this year......

Lol@nuune,,,, shukaansiologist I like it hmmmmm let me think wow I can take that nice name markii af-somali loo macneeyana waa??????

nuune sxb its excellent thanks

Lool@raula Nicaraguan Dies After Eating Live Fish Thu Jan 27,10:49 PM ET MANAGUA, Nicaragua - A man who joked to friends that he would eat a fish live choked to death when the creature squirmed and lodged in his throat, police and coroner's officials said Thursday. Police said the incident occurred when 22-year-old Jose Angel Torres Padilla was fishing with friends on Monday in the municipality of Dario, about 40 miles north of the capital. Police said the man's friends told them he had put the fish in his mouth, joking that he was going to eat it live. But the fish squirmed and slipped down his throat. Benito Lindo, coroner for the provincial capital of Matagalpa, told The Associated Press by telephone that doctors conducting an autopsy had found a fish in the man's throat. How about this story? raula

Good piont Mombasa Queen But why don't we say that they need us (Women) as much as we need them (Men) period. Go figure:..............

Xaaskiisa bay ahayd balse maseer baa galay wiilka waana ka shakiyay gabadha maalintii dambana waxuu ku arkay ayada oo wiil la socota intii uu wiilka la dagaali lahaa buu gabadhii dilay.

Nin-Yaaban sxb wiilkan gabar buu dilay sidaa baa loogu xukumay life in jail.

Umadi Ilaahay dhib ma galiyo ilaa ay ayagu lugahooda ku doontaan Soomaali ibtilo iyo dhib bay cagahooda ku doonteen dhibna ka dhammaan maayo ilaa ay u soo noqondaan Allaah diintiisa. Runtii waa arin naxdin leh in aynu is layno dilkuna uu wax qiimo ahi inoogu fadhiyin. Xumaan oo dhan waxay timaadaan kolka laga dheeraado Ilaahay diintiisa marka Allaah ha inoo dhambi dhaafo hanuunna asiga baan way diisanaynaa. Wabillaahi Towfiiq:...........

J'baro sxb dunida oo idil marka la eego ee lacabiro fiicnaanta iyo xumaanta waxaa miisaankiisu bataa xumaanta guurka Soomaalidana waa sidoo kale. Xiliyadan dambe waxaad moodaa ama aad aragtaa in uu guurku sidiisaba uu Qiime lahayn taasina waxaa sabab u ah ama dhaliya sida kolka horre uu guurku ku bilowdo. Tusaale ahaan haddii aan u soo qaayo Gobolkani aan ku noolahay waxaa arkaysaa Gabar iyo wiil baa is baranaya markii ay in muddo ahi wada socdaan bay waxay go'aan ku gaaraan inay iskuursadaan runtii taasi ma xuma oo guurku waa arin muhim ah oo loo baahan yahay bulsho ahaan balse guurku wuxuu la yimaadaa ama uu wataa masuuliyad fara badan oo ka iman karta dhan walba. Waxaa dhici karaysa in uu wiilku ku jiro Dugsi Sare Gabadhuna sidoo kale waxayna doonayaan inay is guursadaan wiilkii baa ka tagaya iskuulka laba sano buu shaqaynayaa kolkii uu ururiyo ilaa iyo dhowr kun buu ku yiraahdaa Gabadhii intan baan sameeyay ama aan ururriyay marka aynu dhiganno aroos sidii bay ku dhigtaan aroos kolkii laga baxo todobada aa waxaa la gartaa inaan la hayn iskuul iyo qasho toona wax lacagina aan la haysan oo intii inanka uu sameeyay waxay ku baxday arooskii oo lagu qarash gareeyay marka waa hadda iyo dan gabadhu waxay tiraahdaa haddii aan shaqayn lahaa gaari mahaysto adigana sidoo kale dee maxaynu samaynaa dee waxba ii ma haysid anna dee waxba kuu mahayo maxaynu yeelnaa dee aan is furno oon laga tagno qof walibana dee dantiisu ha raacdo markaa baa laba bilood kadib baa maqlaysaa oo hebal iyo heblaayo way is fureen. Horaa Soomaali u tiri "Geed fudeyd lagu koraa fudeyd baa looga soo degtaa." Marka guurku aad buu u qiima jabay tan kaliyana maahan runtii wax yaabaha sababa in lays furo. Waxaa kaloo jirta in rag badan oo Soomaali ah ay caadaysteen kolka ay shaqada ka yimaadaan intii ay soo aadi lahaayeen guryahooda bay aadan STARTBUCKS ama Maqaayadaha Soomaalidu ay leeyihiin oo ay ilaa iyo inta laga xerayo soo joogaan gabadhiina ay dhax bood boodo shantii caruur ee uu ilaahay siiyay markaasay ku wareertaa oo ku dhibtoodaa markii ay qaadan waysane tiraahdaa war haddii aadan caruurtu ila korinaynin dee kagu kala kaxee oo sidaa qooskii ku dumaa ama uu ku burburaa. Marka Allaah inuu u gargaaro mooyee ummaddani dhib fara badan baa haysta haba ugu darnaadeenne kuwa ku nool dulalkan reer galbeedku leeyihiin. Wabillaahi Towfiiq:.............

Waraa Tuujiye tarmuus haraanti maku dhahaa, waraa dhiigaa isku yeeloosaahee. waraa i dhagayso j'baro iyo ani walaalo aa nahay dhexdeenana ma kuu banaano aboo ha is wareerinin. yaa ka fiican hashoo footballka kula taqaan yaaqee yaa kuu sheegaayahee wax badan aa ku dhiman intii meesha ka kacdid too mushaarida kuu kariso soo raaso haddii waysone ani lee ii soo sheeg too waxaan kuu soo raadihaa axadii markii la gaaro popcorn iyo cocada kuu soo sameyso oo footballka kula fiisato abaa ii sheeglee waa laguu haayaa too. Go figure:..............

Waa XAARAAM in gabar iyo wiil aan waxba isku ahay isla dagaan, run haddii la sheegana annaga diinteenna iyo waliba dhaqan Soomaaligeenna ma naqaan wax la dhaho Roommate oo laba qofood (Wiil iyo Gabar) isla dagaan. Marka haddii AJ uu la yaabay arintan waa ku saxsanyahay maxaa yeelay waa arin nagu cusub. XAQANA marka ay lu timaado ma'ahan in laga war wareegsadaa marka walaalayaan Allaah aan u noqonno runtana aan isku sheegno. Aniga intaa aan ka iri arintaa period. Wabillaahi Towfiiq:..........

how many of you know someone who is in jail/prison honestly? Nin Yaaban sxb I only know one dude and I don't think he will ever get out jail 'cause his case is huge and probably will be there for life though I dont know the death penalty charges in State of MN, but what he was indicating when he was telling us his situation in jail was that he will be there for a long time. Allaah ha u fufudeeyo Aamiin. Wabillaah:..........

Hadda ayaan Gartay sxb boojo waxaa ka dhahaa imbiliga (Cocada or Fantada furkeeda) la fidiyo inta wax lagu garaaco oo markaa la tuuro kadibna la cabiro ama la taakeeyo inta ay isku jiraan. (Haddii aan Qaldamay iqabo). Warbacna waxaa la yiraahdaa inta god la qodo aa lagu tuurtuuraa asigana waa la cabiraa sidoo kale(I think, not really sure). Annaga Xaafaddeena waxaan ku dheeli jirnay wax yaabo kala duwan sida baliisha, Imbiliga, Taraqa, Turubka, Aabitayda, Garaangarta , iyo baabuurtii laga samayn jiray Fiilo Feerada. Aniga waxaan jeclaan jiray Shilinka ladheeli jiray maxaa yeelay markasta waa ku wingarayn jiray. Shilinka waxaa loo cayaaraa god aa la qodaa marka la qodo afar tilaabo aa laga fogaanaa markaas aa shilinka godka lagu soo tuuraa marka qofba qofka uu ooga dhaw yahay god ama godka shilinkiisa ugu dhaco aa qaadanaayo shilimada oo dhan, laakiin haddii marka la soo tuuro ay shilimada godka wadagalaan cayaarta waa lagu celinayaa. Haddii kale waa la taakaynaa markaa qofkii shilinkiisa uu godka u dhawaato aa qaadanaayo shilimada oo dhan. Waa sida baliisha loo cayaari jiray oo kale except waa shilimaad. Go figure:...........

Wiilo, adiga abaayadiis "boojo" iyo "warbac" ma ciyaari jirtay, koleey wax walba "Buuma" aa u gishatee. Ar maxaa wariiri la ii duugay intaa warbac soo jibi is dhahaaye, xaaaax. MMA sxboow waxaan isku malayn jiray inaan ahay Reer Xamar sax ah laakiin ma jirto warkaas hadda bal kanne maxaas ahaa iga jilcibo sxboow. Sugba aa ka fikiree "Boojo" iyo "Warbac" naaah warbac aa u eg war aan kasaayo laakiin boojo kaas waxaan umalynaa Ciyaal kaambo Amxaaro aa ku dheel dheeli jiriin, ani ma kasooyi sxb adi lee waaye haddii jilcinaysid iyo haddii kaleeto. Tuujiye sxb soo dhawaaw intee ka baxdi yaaqee hadda waxaan rabay inaan kaa baafiyo BBCda oo dhaho koo xayeesigoo oo madowgoo aa naga dhimi laakiin alxamdullilaah waa soo noqoti khayr waayi soo dhawaaw hee qaxwadaadana horay u soo qaado. Go figure:............

Inkasta oo aan aniga raadinayay Heeso wadani ah oo qoraal ah haddana waxaan filayaa in dhagaysiguba uu ok yahay, waad ku mahadsantihiin dhammaantiin.

Wa'iyaaka brother and good article indeed.

Amin Caamir Allaah ma qaado.

Halkii laga bur buriyay Qabriyadii Talyaaniga oo laga bilaabay Dhismaha Masjid Jiingad ka sameysan Halkii laga bur buriyay Qabuurihii Talyaaniga ayaa maanta waxaa laga bilaabay dhismaha Masjid cusub oo ka sameysan Jiingad kaasi oo ay dadka deegaanka ku tukan doonaan shanta salaadood, isla markaana maalmaha Khamiista iyo Jimcahana lagu qaban doono muxaadarooyin lagu wacyigelinayo dadka deegaankaas. Hor joogayaasha Maleeshiyooyinka gacanta ku haya dhulkii ay ku yaaleen Qabriyadaas ee Masjidka ka dhisaya ayaa iyaga kuu sheegaya in ay ku faraxsan yihiin in ay tallaabadaas qaadaan oo markaasina ay dalka ka tirtiraan baro ay lahaayeen gaalo dalka horay u deganaan jirtay haddii ay ahaan lahaayeen Qabuurta ceynkan oo kale ah iyo Kaniisadaha. Mas’uuliyiin u hadlay maamulka Gobolka Banaadir ayaa shalay banaanbax ay isugu soo baxeen dadweyne ka soo horjeeda bur burinta Qabriyadaas ka hor sheegay in haddii dadka ka dambeeya falkaas ay doonayaan in ay Masjid dhisaan ay dhul ugu deeqayaan balse ay lafaha dadkaas mar hore dhintay ay dib ugu celiyaan halkii ay ka soo bixiyeen, waxaadse mooddaa in hadalka mas’uuliyiintaas uu la mid noqday dhawaqii lagu yiri dhegoolaha. 8-kii Bishan ayay ahayd markii ay dadka Muqdisho, gaar ahaan kuwa ku nool nawaaxiga Qabriyadii Talyaaniga ku soo baraarugeen Qabriyadii oo fagan, isla markaana ay qaar ka mid ah lafaha dadkaas ku jiraan jawaano, halka kuwo kalena lagu soo daadiyay agagaarka Garoonkii Diyaaradaha ee Muqdisho. Arintani maxay idinla tahay dhammaantiin? kolay anigu iga yaabisaye. Salaad Iidow Xasan (Xiis) Hiiraan Online sxiis@hiiraan.com Mogadishu, Somalia

Jumatatu waan kuugu raacsanahay arintan uma malaynayo inay jiraysa cid yeelaysa idinku kaliya hubka dhiga marka waa dee jug jug meeshaadii joog kolayba sida Allaah uu ka dhigo bay noqonaysaa balse sida hadda muuqata uma eka arin soconaysa. Wabillaah:...........

Social Structure and Gender Roles Somalis belong to clans and sub-clans. These hierarchical descent groups, each said to originate with a single male ancestor, are a central fact of Somali life. Understanding how Somali people relate to one another requires some knowledge of the clan system. In Somali society, clans serve as a source of great solidarity as well as conflict. Clans combine forces for protection, access to water and good land, and political power. The Somali clan organization is an unstable system, characterized by changing alliances and temporary coalitions. The ever-shifting world of clan politics is captured in a saying popular among nomads: My full brother and I against my father, my father's household against my uncle's household, our two households (my uncle's and mine) against the rest of the immediate kin, the immediate kin against non-immediate members of my clan, my clan against other clans, and my nation and I against the world. Among Somalis, a primary division exists between the Samaale and the Sab. The Samaale are the majority of the Somali people and consist of four main clan families—the (Q names) each of which is further divided into sub-clans. The Samaale are primarily of nomadic origin and live throughout Somalia and in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti. The Sab consist of two clan families, the Digil and (Q name) located primarily in southern Somalia, where they mix farming and herding and are more likely than the Samaale to be sedentary. The society of the pastoral Somalis is fundamentally democratic. Traditionally, decisions are made by councils of men. These councils are egalitarian, sometimes to the point of anarchy, although age, lineage, seniority, and wealth can have influence. In these councils, anthropologist I. M. Lewis points out, "all men are councilors and all men politicians." Somali egalitarianism permeates all aspects of society. In Somalia, it is not at all unusual for a poor and uneducated nomad to approach a high government official as an equal and engage him in a discussion about affairs of state. A fundamental aspect of traditional Somali political organization is the diya-paying group. Diya is compensation paid by a person who has injured or killed another person. A diya-paying group is made up of a few hundred to a few thousand men linked by lineage and a contractual agreement to support one another, especially in regard to compensation for injuries and death against fellow members. While Somalia's political culture is basically egalitarian, social and political change have created new patterns of social life. In recent years, a new urban group, educated in Western-type schools and working as merchants or in government, has emerged. These urbanites enjoy more wealth, better access to government services, and greater educational opportunities for their children than do other sectors of society. For Somalis who are settled or partly settled farmers, the village and its headman assume social and political importance. In rural areas, links to the cities remain strong, with rural relatives caring for livestock owned by the urbanites. For all Somalis, the family is the ultimate source of personal security and identity. The importance of family is reflected in the common Somali question, tol maa tahay? (What is your lineage?). Historian Charles Geshekter notes, "When Somalis meet each other they don't ask: Where are you from? Rather, they ask: Whom are you from? Genealogy is to Somalis what an address is to Americans." Somalis typically live in nuclear families, although older parents may move in with one of their children. Households are usually monogamous; in polygamous households (one fifth of all families), wives usually have their own residences and are responsible for different economic activities. Traditionally, marriages were arranged, since marriage was seen as a way to cement alliances. Increasingly, however, parents are willing to consider love interests if they think the match is suitable. Somali culture is male centered, at least in public, although women play important economic roles in both farming and herding families and in business in the cities. Female labor is valued for productive tasks as well as for household chores, as long as the male is still seen as being in charge. In recent years, war, drought, and male migration have dramatically increased the number of female-headed households. As the result of efforts by the socialist regime to improve opportunities for women, Somali women have more freedom to become educated, to work, and to travel than do most other Muslim women. Before the 1969 revolution, 20% of primary school students were girls; in 1979, the figure approached 40%. In other ways, the status of women remains unchanged. Women are still expected to keep the family's honor by remaining virgins until marriage. It is said that female circumcision and infibulation, performed on 98% of Somali girls between the ages of 8 and 10, represent an effort to control women's sexuality, since the practice is not required by Islam. Many women suffer all of their lives from a great variety of medical problems stemming from this practice. Female circumcision, as practiced in Somalia, involves the removal of the clitoris and the labia. With infibulation, the vagina is then sewn up, leaving only a tiny opening, which is enlarged for marriage and enlarged once again for childbirth. "In Somali society, clans serve as a source of great solidarity as well as conflict." "While Somalia's political culture is basically egalitarian, social and political change have created new patterns of social life." "Somali women have more freedom to become educated, to work, and to travel than do most other Muslim women" I just love this quote somehow. Some Basic Somali Vocabulary airplane dayuurad / meat hilib automobile baabuur / medicine daawo cold qabow milk / caano danger khatar, halis / month bil daughter [also: girl] / gabar, inan mother / hooyo day maalin / road, / street waddo drink / cab ship / markab eat / cun / son [also: boy] wiil, inan father aabbe vegetables khudaar food / cunto water / biyo friend / saaxiib when? / goorma? fruit / miro where? / xaggee? fuel / shidaal why? / maxaa? hot / kulul www.culturalorientation.net

This article is VERY long if you can bear with me I think its worth it. Somalia Geography Somalia is a long, narrow country that wraps around the Horn of Africa. It has the longest coast of any African nation, bordering on both the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The inland areas are predominantly plateaus, with the exception of some rugged mountains in the far north. The northern region is more arid, whereas the southern portion of the country receives more rainfall. Many Somalis are nomadic or semi-nomadic herders, some are fishermen, and some farmers. Mogadishu is the capital and largest city. History and Politics Unlike many African nations, Somalia is composed of a single, homogeneous ethnic group. Although Somalis may differ in nuances of local lifestyle, they share a uniform language, religion, and culture, and trace their heritage to a common ancestor. Colonial rule began in the mid 1800s and divided the land inhabited by ethnic Somalis into several territories. The French controlled the northernmost region (the area that is now Djibouti), the British colonized northern Somalia creating a country called British Somaliland, the Italians governed southern Somalia, creating Italian Somaliland, Ethiopia controlled the inland region of the ******, and Kenya controlled land on its northern border inhabited by Somalis, called the Northern Frontier District (NFD). In 1960 British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland peacefully obtained independence and were united to form the current borders of Somalia. The ******, controlled by the British after World War II, was designated as part of Ethiopia in a U.N. mediated agreement in 1948. This has been a source of heated contention between the Somali and Ethiopian governments ever since. Twice, in 1964 and again in 1977, military conflict arose between the two countries over control of the ******, resulting in many lost lives on both sides. The land is currently controlled by Ethiopia, though many Somalis believe the region should be reunited with Somalia. In 1977 Djibouti received independence from the French. Although the government of Djibouti chose not to reunite with Somalia, ties between the countries remain close, as the citizens share a common culture and language. Travel is permitted freely across the border without a visa. At the time of independence in 1960 a civilian government was established, which then allied itself with the USSR as a way to distance itself from its prior colonial rulers. In 1969, General Mohammed Siad Barre lead a coup, creating a socialist military government with himself as its President. In the early years of his government Barre enjoyed popular support, but as his regime became increasingly more oppressive, his support waned. The Barre government was accused of many human rights violations. In addition, some Somalis felt Barre was not aggressive enough about regaining the ****** from Ethiopia. In the late 1970s and early 1980s clan-based militias developed in order to oppose and overthrow Barre. In 1977 Barre broke ties with Moscow after the Soviets began providing aid to Ethiopia during the ****** War. With this realignment, the United States began supplying military and economic aid to Somalia, but eventually suspended these efforts in 1989 because of the Barre government's human rights record. Outright civil war erupted from 1988-1991, culminating in the exile of Barre in January 1991. Since 1991, the various militias have fought against each other vying for control of the country. There has been no effective government and the infrastructure of the country has crumbled. Many civilians have suffered from rampant violence. Food supplies have been manipulated for political gain resulting in famine and death from starvation. It was estimated by the US Army that by the fall of 1992, 40% of the population of Baidoa and 25% of all Somali children under the age of five had died because of famine. In late 1992, US and UN forces intervened in Somalia to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis. By March 1994 all foreign troops had withdrawn. At the present time the country remains overwhelmed in inter-clan disputes. In 1991 people began leaving the country to escape the hunger, rape, and death that had become widespread. Over one million people fled to neighboring countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Yemen, and Burundi. Most stayed in large refugee camps that were established to house the Somalis. Resettlement programs have enabled families to move to Europe (Germany, Switzerland, Finland, England) and the United States. Somalis in the US live predominantly in New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, and more recently San Diego and Seattle. Language The universal language in Somalia is Somali, an afroasiatic language that is closely related to Oromiffa and more distantly related to Swahili and the semitic languages of Arabic, Hebrew, and Amharic. Although written for many years, a uniform orthography was not adopted until 1973. The vast majority of the population is Moslem (>99%), and thus Arabic is a second common language. Until the 1970's, education was conducted in the language of colonial rule, thus older Somalis from northern Somalia are conversant in English and those from southern Somalia are conversant in Italian. The government sponsored literacy campaigns in the 1970s and 1980s and education was free at all levels until 1991. Interpersonal Relationships Names, Naming Somali names have three parts. The first name is the given name, and is specific to an individual. The second name is the name of the child's father, and the third name is the name of the child's paternal grandfather. Thus siblings, both male and female, will share the same second and third names. Women, when they marry, do not change their names. By keeping the name of their father and grandfather, they are, in effect, maintaining their affiliation with their clan of birth. Status, Role, Prestige Greetings and Displays of Respect Many social norms are derived from Islamic tradition, and thus may be similiar to other Islamic countries. The common way to greet someone is to say salam alechem (roughly translated as "God bless you") and to shake their hand. Due to Islamic tradition, men and women do not touch each other. Thus men shake the hands of other men, and women shake each other's hands. When departing, the common phrase is nabad gelyo ("goodbye"). Respect is paid to the elders of the community. Elders are addressed as "aunt" or "uncle," even if they are strangers. General Etiquette The right hand is considered the clean and polite hand to use for daily tasks such as eating, writing, and greeting people. If a child begins to show left-handed preference, the parents will actively try to train him or her to use the right hand. Thus left-handedness is very uncommon in Somalia. As proscribed by Moslem tradition, married women are expected to cover their bodies including their hair. In Somalia, some Somali women wear veils to cover their faces, but few do in the U.S. as they find this a difficult custom to adhere to in American society. Pants are not a generally accepted form of attire for women, but may be worn under a skirt. The traditional womens dress is called a hejab, and the traditional clothing for a man is called a maawis. The snug-fitting hat that men wear is a qofe. Marriage, Family and Kinship Marriage Marriages can either be arranged or be a result of personal choice. The common age of marriage is around 14 or 15 years old. Men who can afford to do so, may have up to 4 wives, as is customary in Islamic tradition. However, not all wealthy men exercise this option. In urban areas, a man with multiple wives provides separate homes for his different families. Whether these families interact or not depends on the preference of the individuals involved. In rural areas, it is more common for a man with more than one wife to have a single household, where the families care for the farm or livestock together. Gender Roles As in many Islamic cultures, adult men and women are separated in most spheres of life. Although some women in the cities hold jobs, the preferred role is for the husband to work and the wife to stay at home with the children. Female and male children participate in the same educational programs and literacy among women is relatively high. Family and Kinship Structure There are several main clans in Somalia and many, many subclans. In certain regions of the country a single subclan will predominate, but as the Somalis are largely nomadic, it is more common for several subclans to live intermixed in a given area. Membership in a clan is determined by paternal lineage. Marriage between clans is common. When a woman marries a man of another clan, she becomes a member of that clan, though retains connection with her family and it's clan. Extended Families Living with extended families is the norm. Young adults who move to the city to go to school live with relatives rather than live alone. Similarly, people who do not marry tend to live with their extended families. Divorce does occur, though proceedings must be initiated by the husband. Reproduction Pregnancy Childbearing usually commences shortly after marriage. A woman's status is enhanced the more children she bears. Thus is not unusual for a Somali family to have seven or eight children. The concept of planning when to have or not to have children has little cultural relevance for Somalis. Child Birth Expectant and newly-delivered mothers benefit from a strong network of women within Somali culture. Before a birth, the community women hold a party (somewhat like a baby shower) for the pregnant woman as a sign of support. Births most frequently occur at home, and are attended by a midwife. Post-Partum Practices Newborn care includes warm water baths, sesame oil massages, and passive stretching of the baby's limbs. An herb called malmal is applied to the umbilicus for the first 7 days of life (malmal is available in the U.S. in some Asian markets). When a child is born, the new mother and baby stay indoors at home for 40 days, a time period known as afatanbah. Female relatives and friends visit the family and help take care of them. This includes preparing special foods such as soup, porridge, and special teas. During afatanbah, the mother wears earrings made from string placed through a clove of garlic, and the baby wears a bracelet made from string and malmal (an herb) in order to ward away the Evil Eye (see Traditional Health Practices below). Incense (myrrh) is burned twice a day in order to protect the baby from the ordinary smells of the world, which are felt to have the potential to make him or her sick. At the end of the 40 days there is a celebration at the home of a friend or relative. This marks the first time the mother or baby has left the home since the delivery. There is also a naming ceremony for the child. In some families this occurs within the first 2-3 weeks of the baby's life, in other families, the naming ceremony is held at the same time as the celebration at the end of afatanbah. These ceremonies are big family gatherings with lots of food, accompanied by the ritual killing of a goat and prayers. Infancy, Childhood, and Socialization Ceremonials During Infancy and Childhood Help fill this space. Infant Feeding, Care Breastfeeding is the primary form of infant nutrition. It is common to breastfeed a child until 2 years of age. Supplementation with animal milks (camel, goat, cow) early in the neonatal period is common. This is especially true during the first few days of life, as colostrum is considered unhealthy. Camel's milk is considered to be the most nutritious of animal milks. A few Somalis use bottles, but more commonly, infants, including newborns are offered liquids in a cup. A mixture of rice and cow's milk is introduced at about 6 months of age, and subsequent solid foods after that. Most Somali women are uncomfortable with the Western idea of pumping breastmilk. They believe that human milk shouldn't be stored because it will go bad. Child Rearing Practices Diapering is not common in Somalia. When the baby is awake, the mother will hold a small basin in her lap and then hold her baby in a sitting position over the basin at regular time intervals. Somali mothers claim that within a short period of time infants are trained to use the "potty." At nighttime, a piece of plastic is placed between the mattress and the bedding. The bedding and plastic are cleaned daily. Adolescence, Adulthood, and Old Age Help fill this space. Nutrition and Food Breastfeeding is the predominant form of nutrition for children under the age of 2 years. Southern Somalia has a large agricultural and international trading component to its economy, thus, in southern Somalia diets are richer in green vegetables, corn, and beans. Southern Somalis, especially those in the cities are more familiar with Western foods such as pasta and canned goods. Northern Somalia's nomadic lifestyle fosters a diet that is heavier in milk and meat. Diets there also have a large component of rice, which is obtained through trade. For beverages, there are black and brown teas (largely imported from China) and a coffee drink that is made from the covering of the coffee beans rather than from the beans themselves. Food and Fasting in Somali Culture Report on Somali Diet: Common Dietary Beliefs and Practices of Somali Participants in WIC Nutrition Education Groups Available formats: Word Document Drinks, Drugs, and Indulgence Qat,(also spelled khat, chat, kat) is a mild stimulant used by some Somali's. It is derived from fresh leaves from the catha edulis tree. When the leaves are chewed, the active stimulant ingredient, cathinone, is released. Qat is felt to make ones thoughts sharper and is often used in conjunction with studying. It is only used by men, and it's use is more common in Northern Somalia and the ******. Qat historically has been listed by the DEA as a schedule IV drug (unrestricted), however recently it was changed to a schedule I drug (most restricted) due to concerns for potential abuse. Religious Beliefs and Practices Almost all Somalis are Sunni Moslems. For those who practice Islam, religion has a much more comprehensive role in life than is typical in the Americas or Europe. Islam is a belief system, a culture, a structure for government, and a way of life. Thus in Somalia, attitudes, social customs, and gender roles are primarily based on Islamic tradition. For example, the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar month and begins numbering from the year Mohammed arrived in Medina; both this and the Julian calendar are officially recognized and used. Islamic theology and religious practice is complex, and is the object of intense study and scholarship within the Islamic community. When Moslems try to convey the fundamental aspects of their religious beliefs to non-Moslems, they emphasize the belief in one God, Allah, and dedication to the study of the teachings of Allah's prophets. The prophet Mohammed is central among these, though other respected prophets include the Biblical patriarch Abraham and Jesus. Moslems are quick to point out that while Mohammed is revered and his teachings form the core of Islamic thought and practice, he is not worshipped as God in the way that Christians worship Jesus. Important religious holidays include Ramadan, Id al-Fitr, Id Arafa, and Moulid. Ramadan is the 9th month of the lunar calendar. During the 30 days of the holiday, people pray, fast and refrain from drinking during the day and eat only at night. An important aspect of this holiday for medical providers to be aware of, is that medications will often be taken only at nighttime. Pregnant women, people who are very ill, and children (usually interpreted as under 14 years old) are exempted from the fast. Some religious observance of Ramadan extends the fast for an additional 7 days. Immediately following Ramadan is the holiday of Id al-Fitr which marks the end of the fast. This celebration involves big family gatherings and gifts for children. Id Arafa ( also called Id al-Adhuha) is the most important holiday of the calendar year. This is the time for making pilgrimages (hajjia) to Saudi Arabia. Moulid is another important holiday, occurring in the month after Ramadan. It commemorates the birth and death of the Prophet Mohammed. Many religious holidays involve the ritual killing of a lamb or goat. In Seattle, families travel to a farm in Sumner, Washington, where they purchase the needed animal and perform the ritual slaughter. Islamic tradition forbids eating pork or drinking alcohol. Somalis observe several secular holidays as well, these include a Memorial Day, Labor Day, an Independence Day (July 1) commemorating the 1960 independence and unification, and Mother's Day. Death When a person is terminally ill, it is considered uncaring for a physician to tell them or their family that they are dying. It is acceptable to describe the extreme seriousness of an illness. When a death is impending, a special portion of the Koran, called yasin, is read at the bedside. Following a death, a person called a sheik is called to prepare the body. A female shek cares for women, and a male sheik cares for men. The sheik cleans and perfumes the body, places it it white clothes, and says the appropriate prayers. The deceased's next of kin is responsible for digging the grave. Birthdays are not celebrated, rather the anniversary of someone's death is commemorated. Traditional Medical Practices Somali traditional medicine is practiced by "traditional doctors" who are ususally older men of the community who have learned their skills from older family members. They are especially adept at treating hepatitis, measles, mumps, chicken pox, hunch-back, facial droop, and broken bones. Modalities used include, fire-burning, herbal remedies, casting, and prayer. Fire-burning is a procedure where a stick from a special tree is heated till it glows and then applied to the skin in order to cure the illness. It is commonly used for hepatitis (identified as when the eyes, skin, and nails turn yellow and the urine turns dark), where the heated stick is applied once to each wrist and 4 times to the abdomen. It is also commonly used for malnutrition (marasmus); when the head seems to be large out of proportion with the body, the heated stick is applied to the head in order to reduce the head size. Pneumonia is treated with fire-burning, herbs, and sometimes percutaneous removal of fluid from the chest. Seizures are treated with herbs and readings from the Koran. Stomach-aches and back-aches are treated with the herb habakhedi, while rashes and sore throats are treated with a tea made from the herb dinse. Traditional doctors are also responsible for helping to cure illnesses caused by spirits. Somalis have a concept of spirits residing within each individual. When the spirits become angry, illnesses such as fever, headache, dizziness, and weakness can result. The illness is cured by a healing ceremony designed to appease the spirits. These ceremonies involve reading the Koran, eating special foods, and burning incense. The illness is usually cured within 1 or 2 days of the ceremony. In Somali culture there also exists the concept of the "Evil Eye." A person can give someone else an Evil Eye either purposefully or inadvertently by directing comments of praise at that person, thereby causing harm or illness to befall them. For example, one does not tell someone else that they look beautiful, because that could bring on the Evil Eye. Similarly, Somali mothers cringe when doctors tell them that their babies are big and fat, out of fear the Evil Eye will cause something bad to happen to their child. More acceptable comments are to say that the child is "healthy" or "beautiful." Currently, there are no traditional doctors in Seattle. Circumcision Circumcision is universally practiced for both males and females. It is viewed as a rite of passage, allowing a person to become a fully accepted adult member of the community. It is commonly viewed as necessary for marriage, as uncircumcised people are seen as unclean. Male circumcision is performed at various times between birth and 5 years of age. It is accompanied by a celebration involving prayers and the ritual slaying of a goat. It is performed either by a traditional doctor (see Traditional Medical Practices above) or by a nurse or doctor in a hospital. Female circumcision is a practice common in equatorial Africa that is unfamiliar to many Westerners. Included under the term "female circumcision" are several different procedures in which varying amounts of genital tissue are removed. This ranges from the removal of the clitoral hood, leaving the rest of the genitalia intact (known as "sunna" circumcision), to removal of the clitoris and anterior labia minora, to removal of the clitoris, the entire labia minora, part of the labia majora, and suturing of the labia majora, leaving a posterior opening for passage of urine and menstrual flow. This latter procedure is known as infibulation, and is the most common form offemale circumcision in Somalia. In Somalia, the procedure is usually performed by female family members but is also available in some hospitals. It is usually performed between birth and 5 years of age. In the last twenty years much attention has been focused on the medical andpsycho-social complications of female circumcision. (See references) However most Somali women view circumcision as normal, expected, and desirable. It has become the center of a debate about potentially harmful traditional cultural practices, and as such, has become a complex and emotionally charged subject. For Somali women in the United States there are many concerns about how their circumcisions will be cared for during childbirth and about whether they will be able to have their daughters circumcised. There are women in the Somali community in Seattle who are knowledgeable in how toperform infibulations, however, due to fear of legal reprisals have not performed them here. Western practitioners need to recognize that this is an important yet sensitive issue for Somali women, and strive to keep the lines of communication open in order to best serve the needs of their patients. Experience with Western Medicine In the Country of Origin In the United States Most Somalis, especially those from the cities, have had at least some experience with Western-style medicine. Almost without exception, however, Somali's associate nurses, doctors, and hospitals with ill-care. The concept of using the medical system to keep people healthy, such as with routine prenatal care and well child care, is unfamiliar. The most common illnesses taken to Western hospitals are diarrhea, fever (usually representing malaria), and vomiting. Families almost universally receive an antibiotic at the hospital, setting a precedent for expectations in the United States. Oral rehydration therapy is common and familiar. Families are aware of colds, ear infections, and asthma (called asma or nef), though these are not common conditions. Families will bring their children to the hospital for a cold and receive oral medication which is effective against the symptoms, again, setting a precedent that they expect to be followed in the U.S. In Seattle, families are often very unhappy when they travel a long distance, wait to be seen in clinic, and are sent home with instructions that the illness will self-resolve. Parasitic illness is relatively common, especially shistosomiasis with terminal hematuria. In a recent screening study at Harborview Medical Center, 72% of East African children (inclusive of Somali and other ethnic groups) had pathogenic fecal parasites. Most common were roundworms, giardia, ameba, and hymenolepsis nana. Somalis also describe a prevalent disease where small worms crawl under the fingernails (perhaps tungiasis?). Somalis are familiar with tuberculosis. In Somalia, if a person develops tuberculosis they are quarrantined to a special TB hospital for many months. Many Somalis were exposed to TB in the refugee camps where TB control was poor. AIDS is a recognized but uncommon illness (<1% incidence) compared to other East African nations. Community Structure Seattle Community Life Community Organization There are a number of Somali service agencies, community organizations and businsses in and around the Seattle area. For more complete information visit Somali Community Organizations and Businesses in Seattle Neighborhoods In the Seattle metropolitan area, the Somali community has predominantly settled in the Central Area, Rainier Beach, and in SeaTac. Common Acculturation Issues There are several areas where the differences between Somali and American culture are apparent and cause difficulties. For example, American apartments are rarely large enough to accommodate families of 9 or 10 people. In practice, this means that many Somali families have been divided between 2 or more apartments. This places emotional strains on families that are often struggling financially. In addition, due to Moslem prohibitions against interactions between adult men and women, Somali women have a strong preference to work with female interpreters and health care providers. However, thus far, Somalis in Seattle state they have not encountered significant problems associated with acculturation. As recent immigrants with a strong religious and cultural heritage, most families have found it easy to continue traditional dress and cultural practices. At those times when Somali adolescents feel the pressure to assimilate more strongly than their parents, usually a mutually acceptable compromise can be accomplished. For example, several Somali families feel comforatable letting their children go to school in Western clothes (as long as this does not include shorts), as long as the children change into Somali clothing when they come home from school. Families send their children to religious school on evenings and weekends in order to preserve Islamic education and tradition. Some attend a Pan-Islamic school at 25th Ave and Cherry. Others attend the newly created Somali Islamic school at Rainier. Wabillaah:.............

I CARE but I cant do everything by myself :rolleyes:

Thanks dear Orgilaqe and Jeceylbaro for everything.