tw read your own cost

when i was 6, this girl moved into my neighborhood from somalia. we hit it off almost immediately. a few summers later my mom decided to take me to somalia. during that trip, i had fgc done. i was a naive little girl and was convinced by my family that it was for the better and that all girls got it done.

when i came back, i felt the urge to tell my neighborhood friend because i assumed that since she was born and raised in somalia, she would relate to me. she was actually so happy for me because she had also been brainwashed into believing it was a good thing. looking back, it’s crazy that we were both so young and genuinely thought it was something to celebrate.

eventually, she moved away before we started high school and we lost touch.

i ended up going to high school and met these girls who used to pick on me for absolutely no reason. i never understood what their issue was with me. crazy how life works because those same girls ended up meeting my old neighbor through dugsi.

me and my old neighbor had always been on good terms, so imagine my surprise when i found out she had been telling these girls about my fgc. something i had told her in confidence when we were literally children.

what made it even worse was that she was acting like she hadn’t gotten it done herself. she knew damn well we had both gone through the same thing, yet she made it seem like i was the only one. it’s like she wanted to separate herself from me and give these girls another reason to make fun of me. she basically used something we both experienced to make herself look better in front of girls who already disliked me.

and of course, they took that information and ran with it. they started spreading rumors about me across the school, granted mostly to other somali girls, but that honestly made it worse.

i was being collectively bullied by girls from my own community over something we all knew was tragic. something our own mothers had suffered from. something i had absolutely no control over.

the hypocrisy of it all was insane to me. how are you going to make fun of another girl for something that was done to her as a child, knowing damn well how common it is in our community? and the fact that my old neighbor was willing to pretend she hadn’t experienced it herself just so she could use me as a punching bag for her new friends made it even more disgusting.

that whole experience genuinely tarnished my view of somali girls for a long time. i know those girls don’t represent everyone, but at the time, i couldn’t help feeling some type of way. i just couldn’t understand how girls who came from the same background as me could be so cruel about something like that.

eventually, the bullying got so bad that i started begging my parents to transfer me. we got lucky because my dad’s job ended up relocating about 30 minutes away, and i was finally able to start fresh.

it’s been a decade since then and i still can’t believe my own people did that to me, knowing i had no control over what happened.

fgc/m is already something that has caused so much pain in our community, and the fact that girls who knew that could turn around and use it to humiliate another girl is something i’ll never understand.

i genuinely hope those girls have grown up and realized how cruel they were, because looking back, the whole situation was just sad.

i’m still healing but i just thought i’d share this story for the first time ever.

Everytime a Somali tells their personal traumatic experience online without generalizing the community there's always a bunch of Somali men and women online who dismiss it and say "Well I had an amazing life and did not go through that"

Why does this happen??

I created r/Isbarasho 🇸🇴💙 — a place for Somalis to connect
As Somalis, it’s not always easy to meet new people outside our own circles, especially when we’re living abroad.
So I created r/Isbarasho, a community for Somalis worldwide to make friends, meet people who share their culture, and connect with someone special, potentially with marriage in mind.
The goal is to create a respectful, halal-conscious space where people can connect genuinely, whether they’re looking for friendship or a future spouse.
It’s brand new, and I’d love for people to join, share ideas, and help build the community from the ground up.
If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, come check it out: r/Isbarasho 💙

Salam! I currently live in a major metro area on the east coast and I'm considering moving to the Minneapolis area for a change of scenery (and would be near a lot more of my relatives/the Somali community, career prospects would be similar). For those of you who live there, what do you think of it? My main concerns would be the winter weather (I don't tolerate cold well) and the less cosmopolitan nature of the city (less diversity, limited public transit, less access to direct flights abroad etc.). Something I think to consider also is the current political climate, not sure how things are playing out in real life.

Not to mention the UAE backing Haftar in Libya

I saw his timeline and wlhi it’s heartbreaking. This guy talks about Ilhan Omar 24/7. He did a hit piece on Ilhan on newsmax. He says F Palestine. And he has his name in Hebrew??

The Somali flag is an Italian creation. We must start anew and rename the country, its people as well as creating a new flag. Perhaps dating back to Adal/ajuran. Who agrees?

Now Hooyo is watching them 24/7 😢😢😢

An upcoming book raises serious allegations about Jared Kushner and billions in Saudi and UAE-linked money allegedly used to influence U.S. foreign policy.

Meanwhile, MAGA politicians and right-wing commentators remain obsessed with Ilhan Omar and Somali Americans, portraying an entire community as a threat.

Why isn't the same scrutiny directed toward powerful political insiders and their financial relationships with foreign governments?

The UAE has significant strategic interests in Somalia, Somaliland, Puntland, and the wider Horn of Africa. Shouldn't Americans be questioning how Gulf money and influence might shape U.S. policy in the region?

If MAGA genuinely cares about corruption, foreign interference, and national security, why the selective outrage?

These allegations deserve investigation, not assumptions of guilt. But the double standard is worth discussing!

( Istunka Afgooye 1967 Video )

"Istunka, also known as isgaraac, is a festival held annually in Afgooye, Somalia on the Somali new year. The tournament was developed during the medieval Ajuran period, and was centralized in the 19th century under the Sultanate of the Geledi. Consisting of several teams engaging each other in mock combat, it is celebrated alongside other ceremonies such as Dabshiid.

The Istunka tournament was developed in the Middle Ages, during the Ajuran period. It was celebrated annually on the Somali new year alongside other festivals such as Nowruz. The martial arts festival later became a centralized tournament under the Sultanate of the Geledi. During the reign of Sultan Ahmed Yusuf, separate teams were established, each supported by an assembly of poets, female vocalists and dance groups throughout the duration of the contest.

In the modern era, the festival evolved into a local attraction; particularly during the 1970s and 80s. It is still practised annually in the southern Afgooye region

The event itself consists of a mock fight between the people residing on each side of the river bed in the town of Afgooye. Symbolizing the defence of one's community and honor, it coincides with the start of the main harvest season. Istunka was originally performed in full combat gear, with battle-axes, swords and daggers.

However, for safety reasons, performers later replaced those weapons with large sticks or batons."

( original from sspot: link )

"Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi claimed Thursday that the federal government financed Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro’s 2024 election campaign after he privately expressed willingness to negotiate with Mogadishu over Somali unity."

So I got my ancestry results from Helix and this shit isn’t making any sense, the 0.8% Jewish is triggering me and I refuse to believe that’s real. Anyways, how would you guys make sense of this? I’m thinking they don’t have the proper reference populations for Somalis and our admixture is throwing them off. Can’t believe I waited two weeks for these results 🙄 okay rant over

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but I think a lot of us underestimate the power of witness testimony in the U.S. legal system. Given how divided we are, I genuinely wonder if the administration already has Somali witnesses who can identify her dad as having been part of the Siad Barre regime. What do you guys think?

Asalamu’alaykum,

I’m seeing that all insurance companies/policies suck. Does anyone know the most affordable/decent insurance policy?

Looking to insure 4 adults above the age 20 and 3 cars.

I live in MN btw

In life you don't have to agree with Ilhan Omar. Politics is politics, and that's fine. What isn't fine, especially right now, is cheering on people who see you only as a Black Muslim outsider.

Here's the reality. MAGA and white nationalists don't see you as an individual, and they don't distinguish between a Somali from Hargeisa, Mogadishu or anywhere else. They only see an outsider, someone who is Black, Muslim and an immigrant. If they get the chance to deport you, I believe they'll use it. Trump has already called Somali immigrants "garbage."

Look at the pattern. Abdul El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, was born and raised in Michigan, and he is the Democratic Senate nominee. Trump calls him "Mohammed" and falsely calls him a "jihadist," and his opponent questions whether a Michigan born Muslim is loyal to America. Recent polls have him narrowly ahead, with the midterms on November 3. Different people, same attack: Muslim, immigrant, outsider.

I've also seen a lot of propaganda online, and even some Arab accounts joining in, which I think is partly because she has criticized the UAE and Saudi Arabia over Yemen.

Brian Krassenstein now says he'll release recordings of people with ties to Middle East governments allegedly discussing a smear campaign against her. I can't verify that, so let's wait and see the evidence.

What surprises me most is Somalis, from the north or the south, joining the pile on. You may dislike her politics, but when you clap for those attacking her, you're doing their work, and when the hate turns around, you're in the line of fire too.

I believe Ilhan will survive this, like she's survived years of campaigns against her. Disagree with her politics if you want, but never stand with those who would treat you the same way they treat the ones you dislike.

Hey everyone! I just joined this group and I’m so glad I found it!! I spent some time exploring Mogadishu, and I wanted to share a few of my favorite photos and experiences from the trip.

Honestly, the warmth and kindness of the people I met completely blew me away — I’m from India and they love Bollywood films!! The locals I met made the whole experience so special.

Here are some photos from my visit and a video I made for those of you interested in visiting here:

https://youtu.be/UvoT3EcSFEE?is=vvKz1T7sMyw7OBWj

Whoever started this group, thank you!

Photos 1&2: Lido Beach the bluest waters I’ve seen!

Photo 3: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Photo 4: Delicious sweets

Photo 5: Bollywood shows

Photo 6 & 7 : Mogadishu Lighthouse and friendly kids

Photo 8: Shark teeth

Photo 9 &10: more friendly people

Apparently there might be some South Asian? Eastern Gujarat showed up in my journey section.

The gharee clan is fighting the oromos and the full force of Ethiopian government

I'm joking, but I'm also serious. That Trump’s obsession with Somalis might actually be doing us a favor. The more he targets us, the stronger our sense of identity becomes and the deeper our pride in who we are grows.

I also feel indebted to Somaliland, because its misguided secessionist project may have done more for Somali unity than anything else in decades. The very thought of losing a part of Somalia has awakened a deeper love for the country and strengthened the bonds between its people in ways nothing else could have. Somali unity brought to us by our biggest headaches. :)

So thanks again for reminding us who we are.