2- Are you a foreigner in the country you're residing in?
you’re a foreigner anywhere that isn’t your mothers land.
3- As a Somali, do you feel an obligation to rebuild the country?
yess. we owe it back to our parents, they brought us here for a better and brighter future.
if you don’t feel that obligation for your parents, to be able to see their own home country become the great nation it once was in their life time, then do it atleast for your future offsprings.
it’s kind of sad to think that 3/4 generations down the line, our heritage of somalia would just be “history” if we continue to reside and create generations of children in a country thats not ours.
england, or anywhere somalis are, are not our country of origin. to build a future and have your children and their children reside in a white mans country is not what our parents had in mind when they were fleeing somalia. our parents did not flee the war to live in a wadan gaal forever. their parents and grandparents didn’t fight off colonialism just for thousands of somalis to build a big name for themselves everywhere else in the world but somalia. so many somalis across the globe are making a name for themselves, and doing big things. so many politicians in the wrong countries, scientists, engineers. imagine all of that going towards somalia, somalia would be rebuilt in a couple years.
i think most diaspora somalis need to remember that we are in these countries temporarily. our parents have brought us here for a better future, to get a better education and a safer upbringing. now that somalia is rebuilding itself (though slowly but steadily) why would we continue residing in such nations where they see us as “foreigners” or even worse.
at the end of the day, we are somali, and we have a country we belong to. though we may have the British passports, or US passport, we really aren’t from those places truly. Remember, we are here to get that education. let’s use our education and bright thinking to rebuild a country that was torn from our parents, and robbed from our generation.
saying “you have to live in somalia” is a stretch, but atleast to have contributed to rebuilding it or supporting your family back home with their business or livelihood would be something. to have a life completely isolated from your culture and roots is crazy. because imagine having children and they go have children and suddenly it’s been 4 generations ago that somebody from your bloodline has ever visited or even consider batting an eyelid at their home country. most likely, there would be little somali blood left in your family line, probably diluted😭
anyways, to answer your question, if you don’t, don’t expect your off springs to either. expect your somali roots to end with you😂
Your tribe your identity we need to know our roots of course but i hope the next gen uses tribalism how it's supposed to be or juss end it if they can't
This a bit controversial i might disagree, i totally agree with the identity crisis part but Abdullahi do you want your children to live how you lived?.. Without a place to call home or do you want them to feel half of every country personally i wouldn't like that.. And about the line where you said it pisses you off when Elders tell you its our job to bring somali up and that kind of stuff i think yes its our job even if they are the ones who destroyed our country we don't necessarily have to be like them we need to be better generation who can build up a country that has power to withstand other countries in the region....I get jealous seeing other nations with governments and strong economy and have a strong military why can't we be like them at least.... You're the future of Somalia Dr Abdullahi you should reconsider this 😀
I feel like instead of seeing it as a burden or a huge responsibility (to rebuild the country and stabilise the region) see it as an opportunity to dig deep within yourself, things get a lot clearer then. Challenge yourself to build within then home as we can shape it to be.
As a fellow Somali born and raised in London I have a deep connection and identity with Somali. It helped I travelling back home every two/ three years with my family to Somalia. I believe it enriched my character ( I gained purpose, humility, confidence and clarity) and perspective on what it means to be a Somali women, a Muslim women and also being British. Sadly though I believe because of that I feel deeply disconnect to British Somalis and the adopted a pseudo Somali culture, sadly they have formed in absence.
I’ve always said I’ll move back home and plan to in sha Allah as I work on my project in one day open a school there. People get a little uncomfortable hearing that. Perhaps it solidifies that home was never here but a portal to get back home. We have a lot to offer to Somalia and so does Somalia to us. We have a rich history and legacy that is beyond war and statelessness. I know you know that.
So to answer your question about should you be patriotic. Absolutely, feeling prideful is only possible if you know what it is to be Somali. Every other person from other countries are so why should we? I know no matter how many times I have visited I am not native born but that doesn’t take away from the feeling I get from being amongst my people and just feeling a deep sense of belonging, immediate acceptance and love - I hope you feel that some day in sha Allah.
Yes, invest. I truly believe Africa is the future.
I hope you can reach an equilibrium while on your own unique journey. I hope you share your talents, ideas, accomplishments with our people back home, it’ll truly be a transformation experience.
1-Do we have to be patriotic?
yes🫣
2- Are you a foreigner in the country you're residing in?
you’re a foreigner anywhere that isn’t your mothers land.
3- As a Somali, do you feel an obligation to rebuild the country?
yess. we owe it back to our parents, they brought us here for a better and brighter future.
if you don’t feel that obligation for your parents, to be able to see their own home country become the great nation it once was in their life time, then do it atleast for your future offsprings.
it’s kind of sad to think that 3/4 generations down the line, our heritage of somalia would just be “history” if we continue to reside and create generations of children in a country thats not ours.
england, or anywhere somalis are, are not our country of origin. to build a future and have your children and their children reside in a white mans country is not what our parents had in mind when they were fleeing somalia. our parents did not flee the war to live in a wadan gaal forever. their parents and grandparents didn’t fight off colonialism just for thousands of somalis to build a big name for themselves everywhere else in the world but somalia. so many somalis across the globe are making a name for themselves, and doing big things. so many politicians in the wrong countries, scientists, engineers. imagine all of that going towards somalia, somalia would be rebuilt in a couple years.
i think most diaspora somalis need to remember that we are in these countries temporarily. our parents have brought us here for a better future, to get a better education and a safer upbringing. now that somalia is rebuilding itself (though slowly but steadily) why would we continue residing in such nations where they see us as “foreigners” or even worse.
at the end of the day, we are somali, and we have a country we belong to. though we may have the British passports, or US passport, we really aren’t from those places truly. Remember, we are here to get that education. let’s use our education and bright thinking to rebuild a country that was torn from our parents, and robbed from our generation.
Do we have to live in Somalia in the future though?
saying “you have to live in somalia” is a stretch, but atleast to have contributed to rebuilding it or supporting your family back home with their business or livelihood would be something. to have a life completely isolated from your culture and roots is crazy. because imagine having children and they go have children and suddenly it’s been 4 generations ago that somebody from your bloodline has ever visited or even consider batting an eyelid at their home country. most likely, there would be little somali blood left in your family line, probably diluted😭
anyways, to answer your question, if you don’t, don’t expect your off springs to either. expect your somali roots to end with you😂
Hmm true 🤔
Nah obviously I'll contribute. I just don't have to be waving the flag at every corner
somalia 🔛🔝
Serving your country till the last breath is a noble mission.
Your tribe your identity we need to know our roots of course but i hope the next gen uses tribalism how it's supposed to be or juss end it if they can't
This a bit controversial i might disagree, i totally agree with the identity crisis part but Abdullahi do you want your children to live how you lived?.. Without a place to call home or do you want them to feel half of every country personally i wouldn't like that.. And about the line where you said it pisses you off when Elders tell you its our job to bring somali up and that kind of stuff i think yes its our job even if they are the ones who destroyed our country we don't necessarily have to be like them we need to be better generation who can build up a country that has power to withstand other countries in the region....I get jealous seeing other nations with governments and strong economy and have a strong military why can't we be like them at least.... You're the future of Somalia Dr Abdullahi you should reconsider this 😀
I definitely will 🤝🏾
The tribes are definitely why I won’t ever permanently live in Somalia
Stay safe.
I feel like instead of seeing it as a burden or a huge responsibility (to rebuild the country and stabilise the region) see it as an opportunity to dig deep within yourself, things get a lot clearer then. Challenge yourself to build within then home as we can shape it to be.
As a fellow Somali born and raised in London I have a deep connection and identity with Somali. It helped I travelling back home every two/ three years with my family to Somalia. I believe it enriched my character ( I gained purpose, humility, confidence and clarity) and perspective on what it means to be a Somali women, a Muslim women and also being British. Sadly though I believe because of that I feel deeply disconnect to British Somalis and the adopted a pseudo Somali culture, sadly they have formed in absence.
I’ve always said I’ll move back home and plan to in sha Allah as I work on my project in one day open a school there. People get a little uncomfortable hearing that. Perhaps it solidifies that home was never here but a portal to get back home. We have a lot to offer to Somalia and so does Somalia to us. We have a rich history and legacy that is beyond war and statelessness. I know you know that.
So to answer your question about should you be patriotic. Absolutely, feeling prideful is only possible if you know what it is to be Somali. Every other person from other countries are so why should we? I know no matter how many times I have visited I am not native born but that doesn’t take away from the feeling I get from being amongst my people and just feeling a deep sense of belonging, immediate acceptance and love - I hope you feel that some day in sha Allah.
Yes, invest. I truly believe Africa is the future.
I hope you can reach an equilibrium while on your own unique journey. I hope you share your talents, ideas, accomplishments with our people back home, it’ll truly be a transformation experience.
Wow, that's a cool comment. My mindset has changed about Somalia alhamdulillah.
That’s great to hear Masha Allah. I’m interested to know, how so?