Etacovda S'lived
תחיה מדינת ישראל
Saxibayaal I've long struggled with this question of what qabiil I am. Bit of background about me if you don't already know: I was born in Iceland in 1974 and raised by a white woman in a white household for 2 decades. My dad was a diplomat to the UK, Iceland and Denmark from 1972 to 1989. I've had very little contact with Somalis and only started interacting with them in the early to mid 2000s. I was so insulated from Somali issues that I didn't know there was a Somali civil war until recently. I was raised Christian but saw through the BS at an early age. I've become Muslim for cultural identification but honestly I can't get myself to pray (i.e. find prayer positions amusing (sorry)). I'm only recently learning about Somali history, culture, clan structure, norms etc.
In my never ending quest, I periodically try to figure out what clan I am. My dad being a diplomat immersed himself in the cultures of the countries we lived in. He was so immersed that I think he might've internalized whiteness. So I'm 44, fully Somali, and don't know my clan. I'm too embarrassed to ask anyone and I take cracks at it with my Somali friends. Two years ago I was at a Somali restaurant in London and I overheard these Somalis discussing Somali politics. Being naive, I thought to jump in and interact with my people. I was of the belief (erroneously!!) that "Mooryaan" was a Somali clan. In fact I was so convinced of it that I adopted it temporarily until I figured out what I was. I would actually tell people I was Mooryaan and they would hastily change the subject and cringe. Anyway back to the restaurant. So I jumped in and asked "Saxiib Mooryaan miyatihiin?". This hit a nerve immediately and the first glass was flung my way within seconds. One of the men jumped out of his seat, escaped the grasp of more reasonable people holding him back, and launched himself at me. A brutal fistfight ensued and both of us received medical attention, before receiving police attention.
So long story short, I want you folks to tell me the names of Somali clans, what the slurs are and how they are all interrelated. I already know about Hawiye and Isaak. In fact I'm thinking of adopting Isaak as my new clan identity until I figure out who I am. So please, feel free to weigh in and educate this old khasaaro.
In my never ending quest, I periodically try to figure out what clan I am. My dad being a diplomat immersed himself in the cultures of the countries we lived in. He was so immersed that I think he might've internalized whiteness. So I'm 44, fully Somali, and don't know my clan. I'm too embarrassed to ask anyone and I take cracks at it with my Somali friends. Two years ago I was at a Somali restaurant in London and I overheard these Somalis discussing Somali politics. Being naive, I thought to jump in and interact with my people. I was of the belief (erroneously!!) that "Mooryaan" was a Somali clan. In fact I was so convinced of it that I adopted it temporarily until I figured out what I was. I would actually tell people I was Mooryaan and they would hastily change the subject and cringe. Anyway back to the restaurant. So I jumped in and asked "Saxiib Mooryaan miyatihiin?". This hit a nerve immediately and the first glass was flung my way within seconds. One of the men jumped out of his seat, escaped the grasp of more reasonable people holding him back, and launched himself at me. A brutal fistfight ensued and both of us received medical attention, before receiving police attention.
So long story short, I want you folks to tell me the names of Somali clans, what the slurs are and how they are all interrelated. I already know about Hawiye and Isaak. In fact I'm thinking of adopting Isaak as my new clan identity until I figure out who I am. So please, feel free to weigh in and educate this old khasaaro.
