Page 94 - MANDERA-COUNTY- THE 2019 MAGAZINE

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10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT SOMALI CULTURE
1. Somali dialects are divided into four
main groups: Northern, Garre/Oromo
Benaadir and Maay.
2. Arabic is an official national language
of Somalia, which shares borders and
origin with Somalia.
3. Somalis are entirely Muslims the
majority belonging to the Sunni branch
of Islam and the Shafi`i school of Islamic
jurisprudence
4. Clan membership plays a central part in
Somali culture and politics.
5. Clans are patrilineal and are divided
into sub-clans and sub-sub-clans,
sometimes with many sub-divisions,
resulting in extended families.
6. Traditional Somali attire for men
consists of two sheets (often plain white),
one draped over the shoulder and the
other tied around the waist. Women wear
the guntiino; a long stretch of cloth tied
over the shoulder and draped around the
waist. The garment can be worn in many
different styles and with different fabrics.
7. Somali art include artistic traditions in
pottery, music, architecture, wood carving
and other genres.
8. Linguistic skills including poetry and
good speech are highly valued among all
Somali clans.
9. Henna is an important part of Somali
culture. It is worn by Somali women on
their hands, arms, feet and neck during
weddings, Eid, Ramadan, and other
festive occasions.
10. Somalis warmly greet each other with
handshakes, but shaking hands with the A camel caravan, dairy goats, traditional dances by women and poem recital were all
on the cards in the historic cultural festival held in Mandera Town.
opposite sex is avoided by many.