Somalia culture is based on Islamic or Muslim traditions which ruled Somali for many centuries. Somalia culture has been strongly influenced by Muslim religion. In fact, Somali culture is viewed the same as Muslim culture.
In Somalia the Islamic religion dictates to avoid eating pork and drinking alcohol. This relates to strict religious obedience between the Islamic religion and Somalia cultural traditions. These two things are the only exclusions in the Somalia food. For the Somalia dress women are to cover their bodies from the top to the bottom except for their faces and hands. The words that describe the dress for the woman are called Hijab, Subeeciyad, Dirac, and Garbasar. In the Somalia culture men wear shirts, pants, ma’awis, khamis, kufiyad, cimaamad.
The flag of Somalia is blue with a white star in the mi
ddle. The flag is represented in the dress colors work for July First which is Independence Day. This means the traditional clothes are worn on Independence Day with blue and white colors. Women dress up in all blue material draped over their heads and bodies. The white star is visible in the front of the forehead for women. The men dress with blue pants and a white t-shirt with a white star bordered with blue color. According to Somali culture, people are encouraged to wear blue and white to stand up together as one nation for Independence Day.Ma’awis is a kind of wrap around sarong from the waist to the feet which is
worn with a tied belt. However, many of the men wear Western clothes with shirts with long sleeves in a light color. Usually only the adult men wear ma’awis. It is traditional for the men to wear Ma’awis to go outside the home to visit neighbors, go to work, go to prayers in the Mosque, and other daily activities. Often Ma’awis dress is worn for pajamas at night, also. Younger people wear Ma’awis for only two times, one is to sleep at night as a pajama and another time is for relaxing around in the house.Subeeciyad is a unique and colorful dress made from specially woven materials. This special dress worn by the Somalia women is known as the traditional clothing worn during holiday events and some types of weddings.
Subeeciyad is draped over the body in a single layer from neck to feet. It is tied at the waist and a shawl of the same material is worn draped over the shoulders. This unique dress expresses the Somalia traditional culture that came from the nomadic people. The way it is worn became a traditional way to wear it because it is quick to put on. The subeeciyad looks different with a variety of colors woven into the material. The cloth is a colorful mix of red, white, light yellow, black, light blue and orange complementing each other. Men and women wear sandals.The older generation of Somalia dress was influenced by neighboring countries of Ethiopia, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Somalia exchanged animals for fabric and traded unique dishes of food. Some of this food was fruit juices, watermelon, mango, peach, and others. Today Somali people dress in Western styles of clothes seen in Europe which are brought from outside of Somalia. Most of Somalia ladies love to wear Diric style of clothes which is traditional to Somalia to go out, party, and attend wedding celebrations. Dirac is light, smooth, and soft to the touch dres
s covered from shoulder to above the ankle. Usually the underclothing is worn that is the same color to match the Dirac. All is the same color all inside and outside with the Dirac on top of it which is the fashion today.Khamis is a very religious clothing to wear on certain days to participate in Friday prayers and on holidays. As Friday morning comes, the people prepare to attend the main prayer at the Mosque. The people are expecting to wear fully clean Khamis as they enjoy the prayer services inside the Mosque. Khamis is long, all-white color design clothing which is
worn differently for the women in long dress fashion. In addition, the Somali men wear brand new Kahmis during holidays, especially when the month of Ramadan reaches to the middle. This clothing is worn to the end of the month when the last two days are celebrated. Imaamat represents clothing for the Islamic teacher (teacher of the Quran), Shiikh (leads in the code of conduct of the Quran and is knowledgeable in the Islamic religion), and elder like a grandpa. These men usually wear the Imaamat on top of their head. This traditional culture is easy to recognize who wears the imaamat is the most revered person of all. Imaamat was designed for those people stated above and they must learn how to wear it and when to wear it because it has purpose and meaning in the wearing of it.“Somali Culture offers illuminating insights into Somali culture and society, with the help of famous Somali scholars (Said Samatar of Rutgers University” (Ahmed Samatar, p1).
“The nearest dream I had of experiencing Somali culture during the party, however, was the mere possibility of seeing Somali women dressed in their traditional garb” (Goth, p1).
Somalia culture is based on Islamic or Muslim traditions. These include specific styles of clothing to be worn by men and women. The traditions of how to wear the clothing and when to wear it are very special times. Some are for prayers and others only for holidays and cultural events. The foods the people in Somalia eat are fish, rice, pasta, and vegetables without eating pork or drinking alcohol. Somalia culture is viewed the same as Muslim culture and the people in Somalia are happy to follow the Islamic religion.
References
Goth, Bashir. “A Cultural Reawakening and Memories of a Dream.” Wardheer News
Copyright 2005. Abu Dhabi U.A.E. 04/29/2010 http://www.wardheernew.com/
Samater, Ahamed “Kuumba.” You’re Guide to Somali Culture”. Harbourfront Center. 04/28/2010 Somali Culture. http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/today.
Somali Pictures. Cozweare-sisters.blogspot.com /2009/01/wedding. (Retrieved 4/28/10).
