If Somali is an ethno-religious group, why get upset when Oromos claim be Somali?? Especially since they are probably the closest to us genetically. Why do we gatekeep Somalinimo so hard? If it's a community based on Islam?
Because the truth is, Somalis are a large family, that hail from a single male ancestor some 2800 years ago, and thus Somali, is a very real ethnic group. This man's descendants then splintered into different major clans, and that's what Somalia is made up of, for the most part. Even when we splintered off into different clans, there was always an understanding of the over-arching 'Somalinimo'. If it wasn't for the flawed origin stories, we would have been an even stronger ethnic groups, identity wise, but here we are.
Islam doesn't make you an ex-son/daughter of your father, so why would it make you leave your ethnic group?
Because the truth is, Somalis are a large family, that hail from a single male ancestor some 2800 years ago, and thus Somali, is a very real ethnic group. This man's descendants then splintered into different major clans, and that's what Somalia is made up of, for the most part. Even when we splintered off into different clans, there was always an understanding of the over-arching 'Somalinimo'. If it wasn't for the flawed origin stories, we would have been an even stronger ethnic groups, identity wise, but here we are.
Islam doesn't make you an ex-son/daughter of your father, so why would it make you leave your ethnic group?