How would somali history look like if all somalis practiced farming instead of nomadic pastoralism?

[BetterDaysAhead]

What do you think our history would look like if we practiced farming? I feel like it would’ve been more rich since there would’ve been way more agricultural production throughout the country and we would’ve utilized and innovate the extra resources on a grander scale

 

[Aurelian]

In a semi-desert lands? Probably our population would be located mostly in the south. that if didn't conquered the neighboring fertile lands.

 

[Apollo]

Unlikely that this would have happened given how semi-arid much of greater Somalia is. But let's say this wasn't the case, then I expect Somalis not to have a paternal clan system. They would have identified more with their town or region instead (like what is the case with Ethiopians). Also, Somalis would have numbered in the 75 million range by now (instead of the current 25 million). I would also predict that there would be more Somali dialects that are mutually unintelligible because there would have been less movement between far off regions.

 

[BetterDaysAhead]

In a semi-desert lands? Probably our population would be located mostly in the south. that if didn't conquered the neighboring fertile lands.

i heard most of somalia was fertile back in the past but became arid due to pastoralism

 

[BetterDaysAhead]

Unlikely that this would have happened given how semi-arid much of greater Somalia is. But let's say this wasn't the case, then I expect Somalis not to have a paternal clan system. They would have identified more with their town or region instead (like what is the case with Ethiopians). Also, Somalis would have numbered in the 75 million range by now (instead of the current 25 million). I would also predict that there would be more Somali dialects that are mutually unintelligible because there would have been less movement between far off regions.

do you think somalia would be the mess that it is today if this was our reality?

 

[Xasusi]

we wouldve developed written language and large cities.

 

[Genesis]

We farm when we can, Somalia is a semi-arid country, so pastoralism is what the majority did to survive.

If only we didn't settle in the horn of Africa, and instead to where Kenya currently is, we'd be far wealthier and more peaceful, what a shame!

 

[Apollo]

do you think somalia would be the mess that it is today if this was our reality?

Well, since the clan system would not have existed or it would not have been a major identity issue, it may have decreased clan warfare, but then again since Somalis would develop more languages (related ones, but sufficiently differentiated like Portuguese and Spanish or Dutch and German) they might not have identified as one ethnic group, but more like four or five different ones. Who knows. It could have gone in different directions.

 

[Genesis]

Well, since the clan system would not have existed or it would not have been a major identity issue, it may have decreased clan warfare, but then again since Somalis would develop more languages (related ones, but sufficiently differentiated like Portuguese and Spanish or Dutch and German) they might not have identified as one ethnic group, but more like four or five different ones. Who knows. It could have gone in different directions.

Do you think Somali's will get rid of clans by this century?

 

[Pipit]

We would just be taller oromos

 

[Xasusi]

Do you think Somali's will get rid of clans by this century?

They'd have to be forced somehow.

 

[Apollo]

Do you think Somali's will get rid of clans by this century?

Probably not, but it may become less relevant when the younger generations in Somalia become better educated. However, the fact that tribalism is so rampant even on here (mostly young diaspora people) is a bad sign for things to come.

 

[Pipit]

Imagine Somalis having warring inland city states like in Muslim West Africa instead of boring coastal trading city states

 

[Genesis]

Probably not, but it may become less relevant when the younger generations in Somalia become better educated. However, the fact that tribalism is so rampant even on here (mostly young diaspora people) is a bad sign for things to come.

An anonymous forum has the tendency to bring out the worst in people, most diaspora Somali's don't even know their tribes that well in truth.

I did see this estimate for Somalia's population, which shocked me;

Somalia Age structure - Demographics

Facts and statistics about the Age structure of Somalia. Updated as of 2019.

www.indexmundi.com

0-14 years: 42.87% (male 2,410,215 /female 2,416,629)
15-24 years: 19.35% (male 1,097,358 /female 1,081,762)

60% of the country is 24 or younger! This gives me great hope that will be the youth of Somalia that will make meaningful changes to fix the nation, as they are the ones most affected by this. The only real hope we have is that some remarkable figures emerge from the current generation.

 

[Köttbullar]

We farm when we can, Somalia is a semi-arid country, so pastoralism is what the majority did to survive.

If only we didn't settle in the horn of Africa, and instead to where Kenya currently is, we'd be far wealthier and more peaceful, what a shame!

Well that is not our role in this world clearly.
Clearly we need to get back on our feet and dominate the strategic area when the gulf hopefully falls.
I know nobody wants a Military Nation but what can you honestly do in that Savage area of the world where its be at the top or get tramped on by every body. :Answer is clear sxb

 

[Farabuuto]

No fabricated/incorrect lineages would appear, people would identify with their region and faith. More solidified and developed language/writingwith maybe our own script or writing system. Population would be much higher. Less dialects. Possibly develop advanced civilisations like other horner farmers did, Aksum, Adal, Lasta Kingdoms, D'm't, etc. More Somalis would benefit from foreign trade rather than having trade being monopolised by just certain clans; the wealth would be distributed among the cities and communities.

Disadvantages would be that if a foreign force arrived then slavery and oppression would be rampant. The reason nomadic Somalis were able to dodge this was because it's much harder to enslave and control nomads. They live at long distances away from each other, aren't good at physical labour, and they can easily/quickly move or run away to certain areas. But when a city state is invaded it's screwed unless u can defeat invaders in battle.

The Bantus were smart for grabbing farmlands in Somalia.