History, Culture & Health
Anisa Esse,
Community Health Worker
Minnesota International Health Volunteers
April 30, 2008
Somalia
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Geography
Location: east coast of
Africa--Horn of Africa. The coast line extends 2,720 kilometers (1,700 miles)
Area: 637,657 sq. km.; slightly smaller than Texas
Capital city—Mogadishu.
Terrain: Mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in the north
Climate: Principally desert— hot & humid in the south; cool & dry in the north
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Somali History
1991
Collapse of
1880s
Colonial rule and occupation
1960
Independence Day
Central Gov’t and civil war
1969
1900
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October 2004
Revolutionary
Central Gov’t
New Somali
President elected in
Nairobi
People
Nationality: Somali
Population*: 9.5 million (The UN Human Development Report for 2004 )
Population annual growth rate 1970 - 1990: 3.1%
Ethnic groups: 85% Somali, 15% non-Somali (Bantu &
Arabs)
Religion: 99.9% Sunni Muslim
Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Work force (3.7 million; very few are skilled workers):
Pastoral nomad—60%. Agriculture, government, trading, fishing, industry, handicrafts, and other—40%
Currency: Somali Shilling & US dollar
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* Source: 2005 World Population Data Sheet – Population Reference Bureau
Somali Diaspora
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Culture and Religion
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Names/Naming
Somali names have three parts.
The first name is the given name. The second name is the name of the child's father, and the third name is the name of the child's paternal grandfather.
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.
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Gender Roles
As in many Islamic cultures, adult men and women are separated in most spheres of life
Women can seek employment, but the preferred role is