Calaami
Garaadka Guud ee Beesha Calaamka
The Somali “qoraxjoog” or “daljoog” have long been envious of their cousins in the “Galbeed” or “dibada” (western Somalis).
When they go to WhatsApp or IG and see the cars we drive, the homes/apartments we live in, and the universities we attend they are reasonably miffed that they can’t experience this.
But nobody tells them many of us are in thousands of dollars of debt due to said university, that the cars we drive may be on lease or payment plan, that the vast majority of Somali Americans and Somali Brits do NOT own the properties they live in.
So the daljoog youth sometimes tahriib, risking their lives (sometimes losing them) in chase of a complete mirage.
The reality is, we should envy their lifestyles.
In Somali cities, most people own the home they live in. I could confidently say in cities like Mogadishu or Kismaayo the home owners outnumber the home renters 3:1.
They enjoy great weather, the benefits of living in an Islamic country, and genuine knowledge of their culture and history.
On the other hand, the westerners who return to Somalia with their wealth end up joining the middle class or upper middle class of Somalia at best. The wealthiest Somalis are those that never left the country. The westerner’s children know little and less of Somali dhaqan.
Anyways, I hope this fosters some meaningful discourse amongst ourselves.
When they go to WhatsApp or IG and see the cars we drive, the homes/apartments we live in, and the universities we attend they are reasonably miffed that they can’t experience this.
But nobody tells them many of us are in thousands of dollars of debt due to said university, that the cars we drive may be on lease or payment plan, that the vast majority of Somali Americans and Somali Brits do NOT own the properties they live in.
So the daljoog youth sometimes tahriib, risking their lives (sometimes losing them) in chase of a complete mirage.
The reality is, we should envy their lifestyles.
In Somali cities, most people own the home they live in. I could confidently say in cities like Mogadishu or Kismaayo the home owners outnumber the home renters 3:1.
They enjoy great weather, the benefits of living in an Islamic country, and genuine knowledge of their culture and history.
On the other hand, the westerners who return to Somalia with their wealth end up joining the middle class or upper middle class of Somalia at best. The wealthiest Somalis are those that never left the country. The westerner’s children know little and less of Somali dhaqan.
Anyways, I hope this fosters some meaningful discourse amongst ourselves.