The Somali Community of Kenya

Explore their culture and beautiful craftsmanship

Somali WomanNational Museums of Kenya

Celebrating our shared past, present, and future

Dating back centuries, the stories and traditions of the peoples of Kenya are some of the most fascinating in the world. They have enriched the country through social, economic, political and cultural activities, each with their own unique stories. Today, 44 communities are officially recognized by the government, and are classified into three linguistic groups: the Bantu, the Nilotic and the Cushitic speakers. The National Museums of Kenya holds objects telling the stories of the communities, which represent the country's ethnic diversity and vibrant cultures. Many of the cultural practices are still embraced today, but have been influenced by the changes in society. This exhibit celebrates the country’s rich heritage through the Somali community.

Somali ElderNational Museums of Kenya

A look into the history and culture of the Somali community

The Somali (Soomaaliyeed) are Cushitic speakers who are predominantly Sunni Muslims. They speak the Afro-Asiatic language and are closely related to the Borana community. Most Somalis are found in Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo and Marsabit counties in the Northern most parts of Kenya. Many Somali's call their God Eabe (also known as Waaq).

The Somali settlement in Kenya

The Somali migrated from the Horn of Africa and have continued to come to Kenya as refugees following the collapse of Somalia state. The Garre are the most wide spread in north eastern Kenya, especially in Isiolo County. In the 1962 census, the Somali were accorded a separate entry. After independence, the Somali community desired to unite with other Somali people in Somalia, Djibouti and Ethiopia to form a united state but Kenya was unwilling to release them. 

Abdulla: The Mad Mulla (Somali community) (2019) by Shujaa StoriesNational Museums of Kenya

Legendary Somalis - Abdulla: The Mad Mulla

Mohammed Abdulla Hassan was born in the 1870s in Kob Fardod near Kirrit, in what later became Somaliland. Abdulla was the eldest son of Sheikh Abdille, who was part of the Ogaden Bah Gari sub-clan of the Darod major Clan. His mother, Timiro Sade, was from the Dhulbahante clan.

He grew up among the Dhulbahante pastoralists – good herdsmen who used camels as well as horses for transportation. Young Abdulla’s hero was his maternal grandfather, Sade Magan, a great warrior chief. By the age of eleven, Hassan was already a good horseman, as well as a hafiz – a reciter of the entire Quran, which is by no means a small feat.

After his pilgrimage from Mecca, years after his grandfather had died in 1875, he met religious fundamentalists who changed his perceptions of the world and the British rule over his motherland. He regarded the whites as infidels.

Abdulla’s first major incident with the British occurred when a Vice Consular accused him of stealing a gun. This was on March 23, 1899. Abdulla, then referred to as 'the Mullah' in the Vice Consular’s letters, wrote back to deny the claims of gun theft.

Hut OrnamentNational Museums of Kenya

In 1899, the Dervish rebellion was sparked by claims that a group of Somali children had been converted into Christianity and adopted by the French Catholic mission at Berbera. This, according to the consul general James Hayes Sadler, was either spread or made up by a Sultan Nur.

Abdulla is quoted to have said that the British had destroyed their religion, taken the Somalis' children and made them theirs, thus beginning the rebellion opposing Christianity.

The Mullah acquired weapons from the Ottoman empire, Sudan and other Islamic communities, put his people in charge of different parts of Somalia, and called for Somali unity and independence. He declared war on all indels (the British) and with 5000 of his followers, armed with 200 guns, he created the Dervish empire.

NecklaceNational Museums of Kenya

His first attack on the British at Kadariyeh caught the enemy unprepared – so much that the Somali among the British troops fled in fear. More regions fell to the Mullah afterwards. He demanded total loyalty, and those who failed to cooperate were publicly caned and at times beaten to death. The Mullah is also said to have had magical powers that could turn enemy fire into water, making it harmless to his fighters. His ability to confuse and escape his enemies, and his mastery of the Quran, convinced many Somalis that he was even immortal.

In one battle, the Mullah destroyed an entire battalion of British troops, killing their captain, lieutenant colonel, and 97 soldiers. After seizing thousands of camels, horses and two cases of whisky, he mocked the British even further by sending them back their cases of whisky by a runner, stating that he had no use for them. After daring the British even further, they combined forces, drawing armies from as far as South Africa, India, and the Yao and Ashanti from Gambia. Even Ethiopia, under King Menelik, gave 5000 soldiers for the cause. The Mullah was brilliant; he drew the British armies to the wilderness he was familiar with and beat them there, killing nine British military officers in the process. Even after repeatedly trying to get information from his captured fighters, the Mullah was always several steps ahead of the British.

The Mullah died of natural causes, from influenza, and even then the British had trouble locating his body. By the time they did, his body had already been placed in a tomb, which they chose to keep a secret to prevent it from becoming a shrine of inspiration to other rebels.

Ajuran Sultanate: The Royals From Somali (2019) by Shujaa StoriesNational Museums of Kenya

Ajuran Sultanate: the royals from Somali

In the midst of the vast Somali expanse during the 13th century, a great empire dwelt upon the land. Canals crisscrossed the Shebelle and the Juba rivers, and the land was lush with crops. They were a marvel of hydraulic engineering, like the land of the Pharaohs was before them. For miles around, this great kingdom was the best, and the only empire in Africa that had bent rivers to its will. Complementing its canals were wells and cisterns, which are still in use even to this day. With a centralized system of government, the Sultans at the helm, and a strong military, not even the Oromo from the west and the Portuguese from the east could measure up to its might. This was the Ajuran Dynasty.

At the peak of the European age of exploration, the European superpower Portugal was perhaps the most determined to test the strength of the Ajurans. Their conquest begun with the city-states of Mombasa, Malindi, Kilwa, Lamu and Pate. Some they plundered, while others they torched. The overzealous Tristao da Cunha went as far as daring the Ajuran Empire itself, in the battle of Barawa, but the resistance was too stiff and the defenses too strong. The Somalis from the Ajuran Empire fought fiercely and defeated the Portuguese, leaving injured Tristao nursing injuries in the Socotra islands.

ShieldNational Museums of Kenya

The Portuguese were not ones to take defeat easily. Tristao wanted to mount another attack on Mogadishu, the Ajuran capital and richest city in Africa. However, the Portuguese thought it a foolish idea to attack the Ajuran stronghold and advised against it. With that, the Tristao backed down and left the Ajurans in peace.

But that was not the end of the Portuguese attempts on the Ajurans. Joao de Sepuvelda led a Portuguese battalion and tried to get into Mogadishu via sea in what was the battle of Benadir. The Ajuran Navy defeated him too before he even reached the shores of Mogadishu.

By the 1580s, some of the coastal cities were already under Portuguese oppression. The Ajurans, a kind-hearted people as they were, sympathized with the Swahili and Arabs living in those cities and called for help from the Turkish for a joint force against the Portuguese. Mir Ali Bey responded with his feet and drove the Portuguese out of Pate, Mombasa and Kilwa.

The Portuguese also drew reinforcements from India and forced the Ajurans into defense. They avoided Mogadishu nonetheless, even after managing to retake the cities under their control. In the end, the Portuguese were overpowered for good.

In the 17th century, the expanding Oromo nation of Ethiopia reached the Southern Somali coast. At the same time, the Ajuran Empire was at the height of its power. The Garen rulers of the Ajuran Empire carried out military conquests known as Gaal Madow Wars against the Oromo warriors, converting whoever was captured into Islam. The defeated Oromo had no option but to migrate elsewhere.

Somali Man by Joy AdamsonNational Museums of Kenya

Pastoralism for a living

The Somali were traditionally one of the largest pastoral groups in Kenya. They kept camels, goats, sheep, and cattle as their major source of wealth and status. Today they have also adopted farming, in places where conditions allow, to supplement their food supply.

RopeNational Museums of Kenya

This is a sisal rope, used for fastening goods on a camel when going to the market.

Somali Girl by Joy AdamsonNational Museums of Kenya

Social and political structure

The Somali were manly divided into clans. As a polygamous society, they were held together by kinship ties. The men were traditionally responsible for protecting the community, watching over the flocks, erecting 'zariba' (thorn fences), and building small stock pens within the settlement. The women were responsible for taking care of the family, educating children, dismantling and erecting houses. Boys would help to herd camels, while the girls (and their mothers) carried out domestic chores and cared for the small stock. 

NecklaceNational Museums of Kenya

Clan system

The Somali were organized into clans, which were traditionally headed by religious leaders called Sultans. All clan leaders formed a council of elders, which was in charge of the day to day affairs of the community (making major clan decisions, settling disputes, maintaining law and order) and acting as the final court of appeal.

There were also community members with special responsibilities – for instance, Sheikhs and medicine men, who were highly regarded in the community. Their opinions would be sought before important decisions were made.

SpearNational Museums of Kenya

Men provided protection

This is a crude spear made by a local blacksmith. The shaft was shaped with a big knife, and it was used by herdsmen to fight off enemies and also lions.

Camel MatNational Museums of Kenya

Women thatched their houses

Duful is a twined mat with fringed grass attached to one side. It was made by women from owo leaves. These were carried on camels' backs and used to build houses.

The Somali lived in temporary settlements consisting of a semi-circular or circular arrangement of houses, erected around open space which was partitioned into pens for the livestock.

The houses were prefabricated and portable structures, readily erected and dismantled. Erecting and dismantling the houses was traditionally the responsibility of the women.

Incense potNational Museums of Kenya

Incense pot

These pots were used by women, who would place hot charcoal in the burner and add some sweet smelling spices. They used this to keep their houses smelling nice. The incense burner was also placed in an oval openwork basket, on which the women would sit so that the incense would scent their clothes and bodies.

Marriage Cane (1961)National Museums of Kenya

Marriage cane

This is a cane of about 18 inches long with a leather thong as a handle. The handle is covered with tan colored leather, and the lower part with closely woven string, painted yellow.

It was made by the men from goatskin, string and a metal stick from the shops. The color was obtained from the Korowtree; its stems were mixed with water and heated, then the color would be smeared on when cold.

Such canes were never sold, but made specially for marriage ceremonies. They were used to confirm the marriage, and the newly married groom would hit the bride on the back three times on the first day of marriage.

The Somali widely practiced polygamy, as Islamic laws allow a man to have as many as four wives.

BraceletNational Museums of Kenya

Somali craftsmanship

The Somali were traditionally known for their male craft specialists, who made attractive artefacts and objects useful for their daily lives. Women weaved baskets, food trays and mats. This section shows you a few Somali crafts collected from their traditional homes.

Pendant (1968)National Museums of Kenya

Decorated aluminium ornaments

Mavasa is an oval pendant. It was made by melting down and beating out an old splay cooking pot, then decorating it with an incised pattern, worked with a small splay ended awl. It was made by a male craftsman and worn by women attached to their necklaces.

SpoonNational Museums of Kenya

Wooden spoons

These spoons were carved by men and used for eating.

CombNational Museums of Kenya

Decorated women's comb

A decorated comb made by men from wood of the Hagar tree. It was used by women to comb their hair.

StoolNational Museums of Kenya

Carved stool

This low stool with two legs was used by everyone. However, women traditionally used low stools, while men used the higher ones.

All men in the community knew how to carve the stools, but some specialized in the skill. Usually one or two men would make them in each homestead, using the hagar wood.

BasketNational Museums of Kenya

The art of basketry

This is a half-done basket, woven using an awl. The material used is from wild sisal (sansavieria), which has been cut. A hole would then have been dug in the ground, and something burned inside it to dry the sisal. The sisal leaves would then be buried in the hole for three to four weeks, after which they are ready for use. Before a Somali girl married, she had to prepare such baskets for her own home.

SwordNational Museums of Kenya

A defense sword

This sword was made from scrap metal by a blacksmith, and used by men as a weapon for defense, and for cutting meat.

Necklace (1962)National Museums of Kenya

Charm

This necklace was made by women from large colored ivory beads attached to two charms. The charms were made from horse skin, inside which was placed a letter from the Sheikh.

A sick person would have his sickness diagnosed by the Sheikh, who had referred to the Quran, and the pocket would then be prepared. These charms were used to prevent all types of sicknesses and diseases.

Somali WomenNational Museums of Kenya

Celebrating Kenya's communities today

Many of the cultural practices of the Somali are still embraced today, but have been influenced by the changes in society. The heritage and culture of the Somali community, along with the more than 44 communities in Kenya, continues to fascinate and inspire. The National Museums of Kenya invites everyone to celebrate the intangible cultural heritage of all communities which makes up this great nation.

Credits: Story

Learn more about the National Museums of Kenya by visiting our website.

Exhibit Curator: Philemon Nyamanga, Cultural Heritage Department. pnyamanga@museums.or.ke

Bibliography and research
1. Fedders A, Salvadori C. Peoples and cultures of Kenya. Nairobi: Transafrica and London: Rex Collings, 1980.
2. Nyamanga, P. O. The History of Somali. Department of Coastal Archaeology, Fort Jesus Museum. 1999.

Photography and Creative Direction: Gibson Maina and Muturi Kanini. Gibs Photography


Exhibit Layout: Agnes Mbaika Kisyanga, Barnabas Ngei and Hazel V. Sanaipei.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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