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Hudeydi Featured On BBC - Radio 3
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Bridging the Gap: The Cultural Restoration of Somali Children By Maryam A. Kosar San Diego, Jan. 28, 2005 There is this constant fear in the Somali community that a new generation of Somali born children, including those that have come to the United States at a relatively young age, will abandon their Somali culture and traditional values in exchange to live life in an American fashion. Preserving the Somali culture in the United States has become the primary concern of many Somali parents and the initial thought that their traditional values might dissolve in the American society creates a level of uncertainty about what the future holds for the Somali community as a whole. According to parents, children are rebelling against their honorable and worthy principles, and are conforming to an unconscionable way of life. Many parents fear that their children will abandon their faith and culture for crudely indecent rap music, inappropriate clothing, and participate in verboten activities. The basis of this trepidation is the artificial image that is perpetuated by the media. It is inarguable that the goal of the Somali community is to assure the preservation of the Somali culture, but some community leaders believe that the Somali culture is being redefined by young Somali Americans that are completely engrossed in a corrupt culture. Consequently, this leads to parents establishing guidelines for their children in an attempt to shield them from what they believe is to be a self-destructing society. On the contrary, many children feel that their parents fail to recognize that they are bi-cultural. These children also experience clashes frequently between their Somali and American cultures. As a result of growing up in the United States, many adopt American mores. Many Somali children associate with other American children during school, and sometimes spend extensive hours outside of school with these children. In general there is an insufficiency in the quantity of time that Somali children spend with their parents. Accordingly, the greater amount of time that Somali children spend with their American comrades, the more likely the American culture will have a greater influence on them. As a result many of the children lose the ability to speak their native tongue. Some parents are unable to speak English well enough to communicate with their children. Unfortunately, the communication level between parents and the children is stifled. The most logical notion is that there is a generational gap, but in reality it is only an erroneous conception. The growing incompatibility is not because they are from different generations, but the fact that the cultural connection between the parents and the children is diminishing. It is incontestable that the United States has provided many families from Somalia with greater opportunities, but these families concurrently have been facing cultural deterioration. Some parents revert to dramatic measures to culturally restore what their children have lost and blame the American culture for the increasing gap in their relationship. On the contrary, this gap of experiences between the generations comes into existence when the cultural bond of the parents and the children is weakened. Parents can help their children maintain their cultural identity by sharing family traditions and customs. Family traditions may include food, storytelling, religious celebrations, or songs. Sharing traditional stories and family histories bring multigenerational families together, and the art of oral traditions can be passed down from generation to generation. Sharing these valuable family customs can give children a better understanding and perspective of their family's experiences, therefore, strengthening the cultural bond between family members. Spending valuable family time together helps children retain their native language and cultural identity. Gathering on religious holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, weddings, or festivities gives all Somalis a sense of belongingness. Young Somali Americans are facing a dilemma; their American culture often causes resentment to their parents, and some of these children are becoming distant from their Somali culture. The solution is not for young Somali Americans to neglect their American culture, but to practice Somali traditions and customs. In order for young people to retain their heritage, it is important that they become further involved in their community. Partaking in cultural events, speaking Somali with one another, and sharing family traditions can restore the cultural identity of young Somali Americans. --------------------------- Maryan Kosaar is a second year college student in San Diego, California. Born and raised in the United States, Maryan represents a growing Somali American generation. E-mail:maryam755@hotmail.com
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mbaroodka with his daughter Zeynab 