I have been asked "Are you Somali?" thousand times since childhood

[Revolutionary]

What I tend to notice is that Somali men have sudden interest in you if you walk pass by them or etc when you are Somali or assuming Somali so what they usually do first is do the infamous Somali stare and approach you with no salaams or how are you but questioning me "Are you Somali?" first.

This question have been going on for a very long time since my childhood but I never got the answer what is the reason behind this. Many people have been asked this question.

What is the story behind "Are you Somali" question? You don't hear any nationals asking that question until they get to know them first. I am asking this now because yesterday at work, one of the customer came to me with his phone held in his shoulder (he was on phone) asking me randomly "Hey, Are you Somali", no work related question or anything but this.

Why?

[InaSamaale]

Many other ethnic minorities say the same thing. Particularly about older folks. It's just finding commonality.


The two other Somali girls at my work, made a point to ask me when I first started. I felt like it was a friendly welcome.

[Sumubaridi]

Because he wants to get your number and does not want waste his time on an Ethiopian girl. he is trying to save his time.

[Abdimalikmoha]

its because he is interested in somali chicks only.......

[gegiroor]

Well, the question of asking someone if he or she is Somali happens when that person does not associate with Somalis or does not look to be welcoming when they see Somalis. Especially, if the person is a woman and is not wearing a hijab, the Somalis don't say "Asalaama Alaikum" to someone whom they don't know her religious background. This is where asking someone who looks Somali if they're Somali comes in.

p.s. I am speaking in general terms and my comments are not necessarily directed at Revolutionary! I have to make that disclaimer in order to stay clear from the lady's fire.

[MujahidAishah]

What I tend to notice is that Somali men have sudden interest in you if you walk pass by them or etc when you are Somali or assuming Somali so what they usually do first is do the infamous Somali stare and approach you with no salaams or how are you but questioning me "Are you Somali?" first.

This question have been going on for a very long time since my childhood but I never got the answer what is the reason behind this. Many people have been asked this question.

What is the story behind "Are you Somali" question? You don't hear any nationals asking that question until they get to know them first. I am asking this now because yesterday at work, one of the customer came to me with his phone held in his shoulder (he was on phone) asking me randomly "Hey, Are you Somali", no work related question or anything but this.

Why?

In the retail business being somali is wonderful when another somali works there they tend to give me great customer service and use their employee discount...

I have a somali guy in matalan that gives me employee discount whenever I shop there I've known him for over 10 years we have a great relationship

[GAMES]

90% of the time when I approach or talk to someone, i know they are Somalis.

I surprise them by speaking Somali directly to them.

And they have this shock face for a moment.

[Thuganomics]

It's you're intro to that well known song dee
You're suppose to reply:

#"Somali baan ahay
Sanku Neefle Ma Ogali
Inu Iga Sareeyn Karo...." etc etc

[TheblueNwhite]

90% of the time when I approach or talk to someone, i know they are Somalis.

I surprise them by speaking Somali directly to them.

And they have this shock face for a moment.

I can relate.

[Sauron]

it happens to me all the time, nothing wrong with it tbh in fact it could save you getting into an awkward situation.

there was an incident were I thought an Eritrean dude was a Somali, I started speaking Somali with him without having second thoughts..war I waran shaqada maad ku cusubtahay? He keeps on staring at me....war abihi dhakada...muu dhago la'yahay! till he muttered "brother I am not Somali, I am Eritrean!

[TheXamarCadCadGuy]

Why do you think they ask you that OP?

[Tuushi]

It happens to me all the time too.

Are u Somali,do u speak it,And i always answer them the same way."How dare you speak to me"

[Revolutionary]

Well, the question of asking someone if he or she is Somali happens when that person does not associate with Somalis or does not look to be welcoming when they see Somalis. Especially, if the person is a woman and is not wearing a hijab, the Somalis don't say "Asalaama Alaikum" to someone whom they don't know her religious background. This is where asking someone who looks Somali if they're Somali comes in.

p.s. I am speaking in general terms and my comments are not necessarily directed at Revolutionary! I have to make that disclaimer in order to stay clear from the lady's fire.

I'm a guy. The opposite never approached (hence, mentioned Somali men).

it happens to me all the time, nothing wrong with it tbh in fact it could save you getting into an awkward situation.

there was an incident were I thought an Eritrean dude was a Somali, I started speaking Somali with him without having second thoughts..war I waran shaqada maad ku cusubtahay? He keeps on staring at me....war abihi dhakada...muu dhago la'yahay! till he muttered "brother I am not Somali, I am Eritrean!

The ones who speaks to me in Somali at first sight are the older generation, it gets awkward because they don't speak English well so we have issues in language barrier.

Few years ago, a Somali I knew for months had a reaction after he heard I'm Eritrean when we were in a conversation with the others, he refused to believe it so luckily I had Somali friends whom I knew for years telling him to zip it and accept it after all the silly questions he asked to test me.

[SultanOrder]

It's cause you look ambiguous. I get asked that by non Somalis but not by Somalis because I look Somali.

[AGENT447]

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Nigga the fuck you talking about " I tend to notice that Somali men have sudden interest in me when I walk pass them" Loooool!
Your choice of words are all wrong here, it's a simple curiosity driven by the strong bond between Somali people to locate their fellow skinnies. Aint nobody interested in you, least of all Somali men!

Fuck, It was all good xalimos going all euphemistic on us and generalizing Somali people, now even the dudes are doing it. Waar raggii Somaliyed siday Arabka ayay u jabeen walaahi!

Given the limited presence of Somalis in any given western city, Somalis tend to stare at each other from distance which is a form of acknowledgement, sort of like, I see you nigga! It's an of putting thing for the women but never for the dudes, you just stare them back and nod, and by them asking you are you Somali is ofcoz the politest way of finding out, instead of just talking to u in Somali, like Suaron did, which at times backfires!