Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/author/ifrah-jimale/page/3/)
I had this conversation with a co-worker on the first day of Ramadan.
Me: “I’m so thirsty.”
Co-worker: “You work at a coffee house; you have so many options of what to drink. It doesn’t make sense.”
Me: “I know, but I can’t I drink anything while the sun is still out.” Continue Reading
A friend of mine submitted this question and it resonates of events in the news lately that I wanted to respond to.Q: I have a question for your column: What can we do about the famine in Somalia and Ethiopia? As a result of the severe drought in the Horn of Africa, millions of East Africans are on the brink of famine. The United Nations declared Somalia a drought and famine stricken area.There are international aid agencies and local agencies like the American Refugee Committee working in some parts of Somalia and refugee camps in Kenya. These agencies are helping people by providing food, water and shelter in the areas affected. But it is not enough.Read other TC Daily Planet articles on famine in Somalia. Continue Reading
Q: How can you tell if an individual is from Somalia or Ethiopia? It seems they don’t like each other.A: And they don’t like to be mistaken for one another. Here is my suggestion. The best way to tell if a person is from Somalia or Ethiopia (and let’s not forget Eritrea and Djibouti) or any other country on earth is to ask them like a human being. It is a lot easier than playing amateur anthropologist and looking for physical or cultural clues. Continue Reading
Do Somalis date people that are not Somalis?Yes, in the present day Somalis date non-Somalis, but it is a new concept. Since 1991 when most Somalis left Somalia for western countries, there has been a lot of intercultural and interracial marriage. However, just like any other group, parents prefer that their children marry other Somalis, not only other Somalis, but their particular clan. Marrying an outsider is still looked upon differently and has a negative connotation. I don’t think this is a Somali thing; it is true for every group.The idea of Somalis dating other people is a new thing for a lot of Somalis. Continue Reading
What’s the deal with the pirates?
This one requires a two-part answer. First, why piracy exists around Somalia, and second, how it started. Continue Reading
Why do some little Somali girls in schools wear head coverings and some don’t?
It’s not so much an issue of propriety, like it is for adults, but more an issue of identity. Somalis (and Muslims in general) living in the United States are living within a larger society that does not share all of our customs. The motivation for having little girls wear head coverings isn’t so much to cover their heads, which isn’t required of children, but to have them dress as adult Muslims with the hope of instilling a sense of Muslim identity in them. Continue Reading
Why do Somalis like to live in Minnesota?
Why not Minnesota? You live here, too.
Well, that is what how I want to answer this question most of the time, but to be fair, I will list some reasons why Somalis like to live in Minnesota. Continue Reading
Q: How did you get here?
A: What do you mean?
Q: I mean did you come here by a boat, bus, plane…?
You can tell this person really wants to add, “Did you walk here?”
I just answer “by plane.” I mean I am freaking from Somalia! In Africa! For goodness sake, people, ask a better question. Continue Reading
Ifrah Jimale answers your questions about Somali life in Minnesota. Send your questions to askasomali@gmail.com