What do Somalis think of dogs?

By |

What do Somalis think of dogs, cats and pets? 

There are really two questions that I get asked about this, and the answers aren’t exactly the same.  The first question is what Somalis think of dogs, and the second is what Muslims in general think of dogs.  The overall position of Islam on dogs is complicated, and you’ll hear different opinions depending on who you ask.  The way Somalis feel about dogs, however, is more negative.  Dogs aren’t part of the culture in Somalia, and the few that are there are wild. Because of this, they are more looked down on than in other parts of the world, and are seen as a (pretty dangerous) wild animal. Continue Reading

Driven to drive … taxis

By |

Why is it that most Somali males drive taxis, and what do their female counterparts do?

A lot of them do drive taxis, but taxi driving is not exclusive to Somalis. It might look like all taxi drivers are Somali because they are almost all concentrated in the airport areas. The number seems high and I think it is because there are a lot of us here, but compared to other races — like white taxi drivers — there’s really not as many as you might think.  Part of this, I think, is because it’s such a visible position, and there are a lot of people whose primary interaction with Somalis is from the back seat of a taxi.  There’s also a trick our brains like to play where once we get an idea about something, we tend to focus on the things that prove that idea and ignore the things that disprove it. Continue Reading

What’s with those scarves?

By |

Why we — Somali or Muslim women — cover our bodies in different ways is a question I have been asked as long as I could understand English.  From about 13 years ago to this day I continue to hear it in one form or another.  Below is a list of questions that I have received repeatedly through my Ask a Somali email.  Even my Somali female friends are calling me and are wondering why I haven’t written about this subject yet. 

“Why do you cover your head? Did your husband tell you to cover it?”

“Why are there different styles of clothing for Somali women?”

“Can you explain the various kinds of clothing and coverings for Muslim women?  I think there’s a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about this.”

“Yesterday I saw an African woman with a face mask. I’m more interested in why there are different styles. Are Muslims like Christians and Jews with sects that are ultra-conservative?” Continue Reading

The handshake

By |

“I’ve had several Somali men refuse to shake my hand.  I think this is very rude.  Can you tell me anything about this?”

I hear this both from women wondering why some Somali men refuse to shake their hands, and also from men wondering the same thing about Somali women. Continue Reading

Khat and alcohol: What’s the difference?

By |

Q: Why is alcohol forbidden, but something else like khat is not? I don’t really understand the good and bad points of khat but it sounds like a rather simple mind-altering drug (which might cause auto accidents), not unlike pot or alcohol. I ask because of a long rambling conversation I had with a middle-aged Somali man not long ago.

[For those that don’t know, khat is a green, leafy plant that grows in the highlands of Kenya and Ethiopia.  The active chemical in it is classified as a controlled substance in the United States.] Continue Reading

What’s with the orange beards?

By |

Q:  Sometimes walking around I’ll see a Somali man with a bright orange beard and hair.  This can’t be natural, and was a little startling the first time I saw it.  Do you know what the deal is with this?

Disclaimer: I have nothing against people with gray or white hair. Continue Reading

Wake up, world!

By |

(UPDATED 9/13) Dear wonderful readers, and one or two not so wonderful but I still love because you read my column, and convince my editor that I should get paid for doing this. Continue Reading

At the pool

By |

Q: I have noticed many Somali families who use the facilities at the YMCA and most of the women wear head scarves or qamar, long shirts, and long skirts. I’ve wondered though about how they feel being surrounded by non-Muslims who are obviously following very different dress codes. Do the differences in what is modest or immodest make Somalis (and other Muslims) uncomfortable? Continue Reading

ASK A SOMALI | We love our neighbors!

By |

I read and hear a lot about how the Somali community is not interested in getting involved with the other communities in Minnesota. I don’t know where this is coming from.  Let me tell you something, we love our neighbors.  Really.For example, if I want to eat at a Somali restaurant, I get the usual “what can I get for you?” and “here you go.” I won’t see that waiter until way past my time to pay for the meal.  If I go with my White American friends, African American or Asian (my roommate of seven years is Asian), I get top-of-the-line service. Continue Reading