Washington state’s Somali community first began taking shape in the 1970s and 1980s. The first Somali immigrants were a small group of engineers and college students.
When Somalia erupted in civil war in 1991, a result of unresolved tensions from British and Italian colonialism, thousands of refugees sought shelter and safety in the Seattle area.
Over the next two decades, the Somali-American community would reshape areas such as Rainier Valley, Tukwila, and SeaTac. Population estimates are hard to come by, with some estimates of Seattle’s Somali population ranging from several thousand to 30,000. Somali is the second largest second language spoken in the Seattle School District.
Back in Somalia – a country with ancient roots that contributed to the birth of Western Civilization in Egypt – an elaborate clan system was central to the country’s identity. Four major clans – the Darod, Dir, Hawiye, and Isaaq – once served as the country’s structure for status and occupational identity.
But for immigrants in Seattle, an ethic of care and collaboration has largely transcended those old boundaries. Stores like Maka Mini Market and Towfiq Hallal Meat and Deli provide the Somali community with foods that are central to family interaction and community functions.
A merchant sells bread in a market in the town of Jawahar, Somalia. (Photo via African Union-United Nations Information Support Team)
Traditional ceremonies for weddings and Somali Independence Day (July 1) are important to the Somali social fabric. Along with billions of Muslims across the globe, most Somalis also observe the Muslim holy month of Ramadan: a 30-day period of fasting and bodily purification that commemorates the transmission of the Islamic holy book (the Quran) that culminates in the festival of Eid.
And Somali communities share resources using a system of kinship and informal community banking known as ayuuto. Additionally, remittances sent by Somali communities in the United States back to Somalia have helped to stabilize regions that are still struggling with civil war, and the limits of a recently formed federal government.
Home Care Aides like Sahro Farah are one form of the Somali community’s self-care. Organizations such as Horn of Africa Services and the Hope Academic Enrichment Center provide valuable social services like access to health care, educational assistance, and economic empowerment tools.
In recent months, Somali activists have raised awareness around issues like migrant trafficking and have pushed for Somali language classes at the University of Washington.
For more information about the history and current state of the region’s Somali community, read Sandra Chait’s 2011 book, “Seeking Salaam: Ethiopians, Eritreans, and Somalis in the Pacific Northwest.”
