Islam in Somalia: faith, the Sufi orders and religion in law
Islam in Somalia: Sunni and Shafi'i, how Islam arrived, the Sufi orders (Qadiriyya, Ahmadiyya, Salihiyya), great scholars, and what the constitution says.
Bulshada
People and culture
The Somali people: language and poetry, faith, family and clan, food, music, sport, health, schooling and daily life, told from the sources.
Faith
Family and clan
Somali clans and lineage: how the system works
How the Somali clan system works: the five clan families, lineage levels, the diya-paying group, marriage ties and the 4.5 formula, with sources.
Xeer: Somali customary law, how it works and how it is changing
Xeer, Somali customary law, explained: elders, mag (blood compensation), rules of war (biri-ma-geydo), its role today, and what elders think of reform.
Food, dress and daily life
Somali names: how they work, and nicknames (naanays)
How Somali names work: personal, father's and grandfather's names, no surname, nicknames (naanays), names abroad.
Somali food: canjeero, bariis iskukaris, xawaash and the daily meals
Somali food explained: canjeero, sabaayad, muufo, bariis iskukaris, baasto, sambuus, xalwo and shaah; the xawaash spice blend; meals through the day and on Eid.
Poetry, song and stories
Somali poetry (maanso): the forms, the great poets and why it still matters
Somali poetry explained: gabay, geeraar, jiifto, buraambur and alliteration; great poets from the Sayyid to Timacadde, Hadraawi and Gaarriye; the Deelley debate.
Somali music: from balwo and heello to Waaberi and the Mogadishu bands
A history of Somali music: balwo, heello and qaraami, Abdullahi Qarshe, Radio Hargeisa, Waaberi, Magool, the Mogadishu bands, the war years and the revival.
Schools and learning
Somalia exam results: how to check Grade 8 and Grade 12 results (natiijada imtixaanka)
How to check Somali Grade 8 and Grade 12 exam results: official links for the federal exam board, Puntland and Somaliland, dates and latest pass rates.
Scholarships for Somali students: study abroad and at home (deeq waxbarasho)
Scholarships open to Somali students: Türkiye Bursları, Stipendium Hungaricum, Chevening, IsDB, Mastercard Foundation and home funds. Official links and tips.
Learn English for free: the best free courses for Somali speakers (baro Ingiriisi bilaash)
Free ways to learn English for Somali speakers: BBC and VOA Learning English, British Council, USA Learns, free level tests, and which exams scholarships ask for.
Universities in Somalia: the national university, private universities and how to choose
Universities in Somalia: the Somali National University story, the rise of private universities, how quality is checked, and how to choose where to study.
Communities and minorities
Somalia's minority communities: Bantu (Jareer), Benadiri, Bajuni, Gabooye and others
Who Somalia's minority communities are: Somali Bantu, Benadiri, Bajuni, Gabooye, Asharaf and Sheikhal. Where they live, their history and what they face.
Language and writing
The Somali language: Af-Soomaali, Maay and the other languages of Somalia
Somali (Af-Soomaali) explained: its family, dialects (Maxaa, Maay, Benaadir), legal status, other languages spoken in Somalia, and how many speak it.
Displacement and drought
How many Somalis are displaced inside Somalia?
Somalia's 3.3 million internally displaced people: where they live, why they left (conflict, drought, floods), evictions, and minority communities.
Toosoo!
Since 1895, every generation has worked for one united, prosperous Somalia. Now it is our generation.
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