I felt somewhat forced to conduct some research on this matter that has irked me for some time. For most of our history, we only considered eachother (Somalis) as ajnabi/foreigners. We were either raiding or were being raided by rival Somali communities. The first time the word 'Somali' was ever recoreded, it was from the pen of Negus Yeshaq, the Abyssinian emperor who waged war on Somalis. Ironically, theconcept of Somali nationhood came from their sworn enemies and was recognised by the Abyssinians before the Somalis themselves. Read this:
"Yeshaq compelled the Muslims to offer tribute, and also ordered his singers to compose a gloating hymn of thanksgiving for his victory. In the hymn's lyrics, the word Somali appears for the first time in written record."
US Library of Congress
Bear in mind that the word 'Somali' never existed in Somali poetry up until the 17/18th century onwards.
It seems that we have always been xenophobic primitive tribal communities whom had no concept of nationalist identity until the 20th century and have always preferred those who do not speak Somali over those who do. Somalinimo was a term coined in colonialist discourse. It never existed prior to that. Are we not, therefore, encouraging a concept that is alien to our very being? Isn't servtitude to other nations like Ethiopia, Kenya and others the true definition of 'Somalinimo'? Isn't tribal warfare, selling the territorial waters, handing over rival tribesmen to the Ethiopians just a natural occurence of what it means to be Somali?
"Yeshaq compelled the Muslims to offer tribute, and also ordered his singers to compose a gloating hymn of thanksgiving for his victory. In the hymn's lyrics, the word Somali appears for the first time in written record."
US Library of Congress
Bear in mind that the word 'Somali' never existed in Somali poetry up until the 17/18th century onwards.
It seems that we have always been xenophobic primitive tribal communities whom had no concept of nationalist identity until the 20th century and have always preferred those who do not speak Somali over those who do. Somalinimo was a term coined in colonialist discourse. It never existed prior to that. Are we not, therefore, encouraging a concept that is alien to our very being? Isn't servtitude to other nations like Ethiopia, Kenya and others the true definition of 'Somalinimo'? Isn't tribal warfare, selling the territorial waters, handing over rival tribesmen to the Ethiopians just a natural occurence of what it means to be Somali?