The Somali Way of Being

Since Donald Trump assumed the U.S. presidency, the world has witnessed the leader of the most materially powerful country accusing a small Somali minority of wreaking havoc, while the richest man on Earth, Elon Musk, has relentlessly insulted Somali migrants.

What may seem complex to outsiders is immediately understandable to Somalis, who say: “Aflagaado waa astaan dagaal” — “Slander is a symbol of war.”2

Far-right media figures such as Tucker Carlson continue to demonize and vilify them. One is compelled to ask: what is the correlation? Why are Somalis and Somalia suddenly in the global spotlight? What may seem complex to outsiders is immediately understandable to Somalis, who say: “Aflagaado waa astaan dagaal” — “Slander is a symbol of war.”2 Indeed, this is a war not waged with conventional weapons, but through mega-narratives and global agendas. As Nigerian historian Toyin Falola observes: “For the powerful countries, the agenda of ‘global history’ is actually to retain their dominance… migrants can be attacked and expelled when necessary. It is the weak nations that are being asked to adjust, to subordinate their national histories…”3 Trump, Musk, and the far-right coalition are not merely expressing personal animosity; they are employing a classic colonial tactic: naming, stigmatizing, and demonizing those perceived as threats to their dominance. Despite these attacks, the Somali community in the United States demonstrates remarkable resilience. Small in number, they thrive through collective solidarity, political engagement, and mutual trust. While individual success is valued, Somalis often flourish most when supported by their community. Even when divided by clan lineages, a shared sense of Soomaalinimo binds them together, creating networks of strength, identity, and enduring cohesion. This vitality has frequently been met with hostility. Allegations emphasizing their small numbers, supposed criminality, and derogatory labels such as “garbage” are not mere coincidences. While every community can have wrongdoers who must be addressed through proper legal channels, these attacks amplified in global headlines reveal a broader strategy of fear, marginalization, and dehumanization. The concept of the cultural bomb, by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, provides a critical lens to understand this phenomenon: “The oppressed and the exploited of the earth maintain defiant liberty from theft. But the biggest weapon wielded and actually daily unleashed by imperialism against the collective defiance is the cultural bomb. The effect of the cultural bomb is to annihilate a people’s belief in their names, in their languages, in their environment, in their heritage of struggle, in their unity, in their capacities, and ultimately in themselves… The intended results are despair, despondency, and a collective death wish.” — Decolonising the Mind4 Attacks on Somali Americans reflect precisely this strategy: undermining identity, casting doubt on abilities, and eroding community cohesion. Yet, as Ngũgĩ emphasizes, the oppressed retain a defiant liberty, and the Somalis’ enduring commitment to mutual support, cultural pride, and civic participation illustrates the resilience of oppressed communities. At the heart of Somali culture lies honour (sharaf) inseparable from family reputation, shaping integrity, pride, and behaviour in every sphere of life. Generosity and dignity extend beyond the immediate family or clan, fostering resilience, adaptability, and independence without compromising identity. Somalis do not conform to external cultural expectations merely to appear “civilized” by Western standards; they preserve their heritage while remaining indifferent to outside judgment. They are naturally independent, eloquent, and unshaken. This collective and individual strength explains why Somalis thrive globally. Even in contexts of political instability or societal chaos, their humor, sense of self, and communal bonds sustain them. No imperial narrative can erase a liberated mind, and it is precisely this freedom of thought that challenges figures like Trump and Musk, who cannot comprehend such an existence. As Edward Said observed in Culture and Imperialism: “Those who tell the stories also rule society.” For Somalis, every individual is a living repository of the country’s stories, myths, traditions, and genealogies, sharing history with humor and pride. In this way, the Somali spirit endures, not merely surviving the world’s pressures, but shaping its own narrative, asserting identity, and passing it on with unbroken resilience. Storytelling and oral tradition are central to Somali identity. As a “nation of poets,” Somalis transmit history, ethics, and identity through artistic expression. Poetry is not merely a practice; it is a way of being. The Somali poet Abdulkadir Hersi Siyaad (Yamyam) captures this spirit: “Although I have nothing, my head is high, I do not beg, I am rich inside with self-respect, dignity and pride. ….. If you’re my foe, I’ll never be subdued, if you’re my friend, my whole heart is for you. To the man who will not consider my view, I won’t be forced to comply with you, joining with others all over the world, I’ll shake off the chains of my oppressors, servant to no one, unburdened, free. I AM SOMALI.” Through these traditions, Somalis resist external pressures, assert identity, and sustain communal bonds. Their resilience, cultural pride, and freedom of thought continue to challenge imperial narratives. Whether dismissed, insulted, or targeted, Somalis maintain a profound awareness of colonial and global power dynamics, grounded in faith, culture, and history. Their collective solidarity, honor, generosity, and oral traditions allow them to thrive independently, assert their identity, and preserve their heritage, demonstrating a model of communal strength and defiant liberty in the modern world. Somalia, the homeland of the Somali people, endured more than three decades of unrest following the collapse of its central government. Despite facing unimaginable suffering, the Somali people demonstrated how to survive and rebuild from scratch without a functioning state. Remarkably, when compared to other nations that have lacked stable governance for decades, Somalia’s resilience stands out, and this is largely due to the strength and spirit of its people. Moreover, while the country is rich in untapped resources, gold, oil, gas, and uranium no external power has successfully exploited them, a testament to the vigilance and cohesion of its people. Internally, there may be political divisions, yet externally, the majority of the population shares a unified understanding of global matters. In every sense, it is the people of Somalia who define the nation: resilient, resourceful, and unwavering, proving that a nation’s true strength lies not in its institutions alone, but in the character and unity of its people. Footnote 1 Notes From Prison by Alija Izetbegović political theorist who served as the president of the presidency of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1990 to 1996. 2 Somali Proverb 3 Writing and teaching national history in Africa in an era of global history by Toyin Falola Nigerian professor and historian 4 Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature, by the Kenyan novelist and post-colonial theorist Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o