Somali Diaspora Acculturation problems

This is a new blog that aims to revive the Somali culture and to face the problems of acculturation that occur in the Somali Diasporas in exile, and impact on new generations. Acculturation is a global phenomenon that affects all exiled communities, to some degrees, as their cultures becomes absorbed by the host countries' cultures. Therefore, they adopt the behaviours, and values of the dominant cultures of the adopted countries. This threatens the values, ways of life and identities of exiled communities.

Not that all acculturation are bad as there are many good aspects for every culture that can only be useful for migrant communities and facilitate their integration. However, every culture has also negative and harmful aspects that can be easily copied and adopted by the exiled communities' members, especially the younger ones. Such blind and complete adoption of the dominant culture - host country culture - may produce unwanted side affects, and harm both host and exiled communities. therefore, exiled communities need to be careful not to copy blindly the behaviours of dominant culture as a way of assimilating into it, while neglecting the good aspects of their own culture.

Somali Diaspora in exile - especially in UK, U.S - is becoming bigger and bigger every year, and as our country is still troubled we need to preserve our culture while integrating into our host countries cultures. Preserving our culture is now the duty of the diaspora as our country's cultural contribution is minimal at the moment. It is also important to highlight the problems that our youth faces by being absorbed by the negatives of the new culture, while failing to adopt the better aspects. It is not secret that many of our youth here in UK today are becoming masters in the arts of gangs, drug-dealings, hooded youth on London, Bristol, Birmingham, and Leisure streets who are up to no good. Old school chants are being replaced by foul words, swear chants. Old poets pro genies became the new hapless wannabe hip-hip artists, uttering profanities that shock the passersby. Is this the new culture we need to advance or is it a curse that will harm our chances of survival in our adopted countries? This is the question that we have to look at in this blog.

Blogging about the Somali exile communities' acculturation and the ways in which reclaiming our culture will happen, is a very difficult task and it is a one I look forward to. Therefore, I will highlight some of the problems of acculturation here in UK, and I will be open to other analysis from other European, North America and Arab countries as well. The posts will highlight also the problems of the integration and resistance to host communities' cultures. The emphasis will be placed on the issues of Somali children, and youth and the importance of keeping in touch with their language, stories and culture in general.

This is a new blog and needs suggestions and participation from Somalis, and those who are interested in Somali culture.



O Elmi