Quick Facts
Place of Origin: Somalia is a sovereign country located in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, and Kenya to the southwest.
Population: 17 million
Primary Languages: Somali, Maay, and Baraawe, also known as Chiminii.
Secondary Languages: Arabic, English
Ethnic groups: Somali 85% , Bantu and Other 15%.
Religion: Sunni Muslim (and Sufi for a very small minority of Somalis).
When Did Somalis First Come To Canada?
During Siad Barre's military rule (1980-1990) many Somalis fled persecution in their homeland. The flight of Somalis to Canada began in the late 1970s. Alberta is home to the largest Somali-Canadian population outside of Southern Ontario. In Edmonton they make up the largest African community in the city, despite being new immigrants to the city.
Where Do Somalis Predominantly Gather In The Edmonton Area?
The highest densities of Somalis in Edmonton are located in the Queen Mary Park, Central McDougall, McCauley, Millwoods, Rundle Park, Abbotsfield, Clareview Campus, Belvedere, Kildare, Dickinsfield, Baranow, Castledowns, Lee Ridge, and Southeast Edmonton districts of the metro area.
The Somali Canadian Cultural Society of Edmonton has two locations in the city where Somali Muslims regularly gather for services provided such as sports and recreation, seniors' wellness activities, women's programs, youth leadership academy, academic mentorship, settlement, and day/week camps. Additionally, the El Rashid Mosque building is also a central meeting place for Edmonton's Somali Sunni Muslim community.
Population estimate in Edmonton: 20,000+ Somalis
What Are Somalis' Lives Like?
- High rate of unemployment (30-40%) and low-income causes many to struggle to meet basic life needs.
- Language fluency causes many to struggle in finding skilled employment.
- Lack of Canadian work experience makes it difficult to secure employment
- Rise of the crime rate among Somali youth culture.
- Extremely proud of their heritage, but they struggle with a sense of shame due to what has happened in their country the past 30 years and continued negative news coming out of Somalia.
- Somalis, once they become friends with you, are very warm and hospitable.
- The Somali women are especially communal; a sense of overall community is very important to the Somalis, and they tend to insulate themselves in many ways from non-Somalis.
What Do Somalis Believe?
- 99% of Somalis are followers of Sunni Islam with a very small portion embracing Sufism.
- Only 0.03% of the Somali population worldview openly confesses Jesus as Lord.
- 99.6% of the residents of Somali identify as Muslims; Somalia is one of the most Muslim countries on the planet.
- Some Somalis, especially Bantus, practice an Islam mixed with traditional animistic practices. This means that they will go to great lengths and expense to be delivered from evil spirits.
- Do not assume that all Muslims have the same beliefs and practices. It is estimated there up to 73 distinct schools or expressions of Islam, including Sunni and Sufi expressions of Somalis.
- Ask Somalis to share their beliefs and practices with you; listen to them to see where God may be already in conversation with them and join that conversation with the good news as relationship and time allow.
