Why are Somalis not materialistic?

[Qeelbax]

Why are Somalis not as materialistic as other Muslims? Our parents don’t care for luxury cars, huge western style houses or even luxury brands. I can’t be the only one who noticed this. You see rich Somalis living in their average house and driving 2010 camry.

why?

I thought it was Islam but when I think about it. Arabs and Pakistanis here are very materialistic. What makes Somalis different?

 

[...j]

Geeljire attitude

 

[Qeelbax]

Geeljire attitude

Which is?

 

[The alchemist]

Life is like a sandwich, no matter which way you flip it, the bread comes first.

 

[Internet Nomad]

Nomadism. As a nomad/pastoralist you cant horde a massive amount of wealth. As it will slow you down and be too much trouble to keep with you.

I think its good we do not come from a materialist society. Materialism is degenerative. The constant chasing of worldly things will leave you a slave to it. Before you know it your time has run out on earth.

 

[Dima&Damo]

Nomadism. As a nomad/pastoralist you cant horde a massive amount of wealth. As it will slow you down and be too much trouble to keep with you.

I think its good we do not come from a materialist society. Materialism is degenerative. The constant chasing of worldly things will leave you a slave to it. Before you know it your time has run out on earth.

These are reer magaalo you see in the west everything in somali culture does not bear the mark of nomadism

 

[Mr. Nur]

you know you don't need to generalize everything. I notice there are alot her in west who are heavy maybe the new generation youth are

materialistic​

ofc not old since they were new to west

 

[Internet Nomad]

These are reer magaalo you see in the west everything in somali culture does not bear the mark of nomadism

Somali mindset takes a lot from our way of life. So it doesn't disappear 100% when we travel to the west.

 

[Angelina]

I’ve noticed that. Very rare to see a Somali live a life of luxury like a Saudi or Khaleejis in general or a rich Pakistani. Even if we have money we like to pretend we’re middle class. Tbh, our community due to us being close and insular, displaying opulence can be a downfall. Relatives from all walks of life will/can hound you and the evil eye will be too much. I think in the contexts of Somalis It’s better to be behave like you’re average.

 

[Odious Delirium]

I’ve noticed that. Very rare to see a Somali live a life of luxury like a Saudi or Khaleejis in general or a rich Pakistani. Even if we have money we like to pretend we’re middle class. Tbh, our community due to us being close and insular, displaying opulence can be a downfall. Relatives from all walks of life will/can hound you and the evil eye will be too much. I think in the contexts of Somalis It’s better to be behave like you’re average.

Yeah that's the answer the more wealthy you appear the more hands that will be out expecting something within the community. Although somalis do give to each other a lot and send back home no one wants to be taken advantage of but the next gen simply don't care and are becoming more and more flashy and openly materialistic and in general things like remittance and the sense of duty our parents generation has is slowly disappearing

 

[Angelina]

Yeah that's the answer the more wealth you appear the more hands that will be out expecting something within the community. Although somalis do give to each other a lot and send back home no one wants to be taken advantage of but the next gen simply don't care and are becoming more and more flashy and openly materialistic and in general things like remittance and the sense of duty our parents generation has is slowly disappearing

Nothing wrong with helping your own, in fact we should have that sense of duty, but I’m sorry as much as I love my people, some Somalis really do like to take advantage, especially if they perceive that person to be wealthy. You’ll see a man who actually has a stable income coming in ect who will still ask for money, some will try and borrow but won’t give it you back and the list goes on. Everything is ‘isii aniga’ and you’ll be surprised how many people have no sense of pride when it comes to asking for money.

Our gen is different, because we aren’t as community oriented and a bit far removed from back home. But when it comes to people that are heavily tied to the community and back home, I’d be very quiet about my wealth. I’d live in a nice middle class area, take my kids to the best schools, I’d drive a normal car and use my money for quiet amazing holidays with no social media ect. Basically, I’m going to try and live a very non assuming life, whilst enjoying my money without having 100s knocking on my door who are incredibly entitled and greedy. Also, don’t get me started on the evil eye and the amount of people gossiping about you.

I see this on snap with some accounts I follow. This Somali lady seems to be well connected as you can tell she came to the West as a teen. She doesn’t even live a super luxury lifestyle nor is she super rich, but her and her husband have money MashaAllah and people are obsessive and commenting the worst and it’s our community.

 

[bluebird]

I think more would if they weren't expected to feed their whole clan back home. There are entire people who's sole income is remittance.

 

[bluebird]

Nothing wrong with helping your own, in fact we should have that sense of duty, but I’m sorry as much as I love my people, some Somalis really do like to take advantage, especially if they perceive that person to be wealthy. You’ll see a man who actually has a stable income coming in ect who will still ask for money, some will try and borrow but won’t give it you back and the list goes on. Everything is ‘isii aniga’ and you’ll be surprised how many people have no sense of pride when it comes to asking for money.

Our gen is different, because we aren’t as community oriented and a bit far removed from back home. But when it comes to people that are heavily tied to the community and back home, I’d be very quiet about my wealth. I’d live in a nice middle class area, take my kids to the best schools, I’d drive a normal car and use my money for quiet amazing holidays with no social media ect. Basically, I’m going to try and live a very non assuming life, whilst enjoying my money without having 100s knocking on my door who are incredibly entitled and greedy. Also, don’t get me started on the evil eye and the amount of people gossiping about you.

I see this on snap with some accounts I follow. This Somali lady seems to be well connected as you can tell she came to the West as a teen. She doesn’t even live a super luxury lifestyle nor is she super rich, but her and her husband have money MashaAllah and people are obsessive and commenting the worst and it’s our community. Pakistanis and Arabs don’t really that issue as they have a lot of billionaires let alone millionaires and it’s common for them to be flashy. Their culture is different.

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[Angelina]

Another point I’ll add that I find interesting about Somalis that is pretty unique:

Lets compare Somali attitudes to wealth compared to that of Arabs and South Asians. Arab (yes even Bedouin Arabs have succumbed to this now) and Asian culture is different, especially Asians who are elitist, hence they venerate the wealthy amongst them, therefore the rich are afforded a level of respect.

Somalis on the hand, do not have that dhaqan which is a good thing, but it means that they might not respect you for your money, but they sure want to use you for it. Whilst other communities attach superiority to being monied, Somalis do not, the same man asking you for money with his hands out, will at times still see himself as being superior to you. He’ll beg you for your money whilst he looks down on you and thinks you’re a doqon lol.

 

[Angelina]

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[bluebird]

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[mahamdov]

Because if you look rich, your relatives never stop calling you to ask for money

 

[𝕃𝕠𝕣𝕕 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕙]

@Javelin an extra problem for us men is that once we are married we are expected to pay blood money because your 14th cousin killed 2 people in a car crash

 

[𝕃𝕠𝕣𝕕 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕙]

"Ever since I was born I felt like an alien who dropped from the sky and have maintained my anti-social behaviour ever since.

Why does that matter? Because somewhere down the line it hit me that I don' t belong among commoners. My place is with the top 0.1% of humanity if not even higher.

This thread has made me, although with not an ounce of hatred, dislike the idea to take a Somali woman as a wife."

- THRESH The Gaijin Hunter

 

[Odious Delirium]

@Javelin an extra problem for us men is that once we are married we are expected to pay blood money because your 14th cousin killed 2 people in a car crash

Bruh I remember having to do that I has no idea what happened except that I had to pay some blood money a few years back