Film explores Somali girls' views about culture, family and identity

BY ELLEN TOMSON
Pioneer Press
Posted on Sun, Sep. 19, 2004

"What's with that thing you wear on your head?"

Somali teenage girls in Minnesota get asked that question every day. It's just one example of how little most locally know about the history, religion and culture of the East African refugees.

Fifteen Somali girls, all St. Paul students at Central and Arlington high schools, hope to change that situation with their film, "Two Homes, One dream: Somalis in Minnesota," which premiers Tuesday evening at the Minnesota History Center. The film will later be shown at Twin Cities area high schools.

The screening follows a Somali Culture Family Day held Saturday at the History Center to celebrate the project and showcase Somali crafts, music, dance and history.

"People have a lot of misconceptions about our culture," said Sumaya Yusuf, 17, a senior at Arlington who also takes post-secondary courses at Concordia University. "Kids we go to school with don't even know where Somalia is on a map and refer to 'Somali religion,' instead of saying Muslim."

The Somali Culture Family Day event included maps of Somalia and summaries of its recent history to explain why Somali people fled their country. Yusuf lived in Somalia only two years before her family escaped civil war and famine by moving to Egypt and later to Canada. Her family relocated to St. Paul four years ago. The youngest of her four siblings was born here last January.

Like most Somalis, Yusuf regards herself as a refugee, not an immigrant. She is studying to become a pharmacist, planning to return to her native country some day to develop new medicines.

"I want to go there and help my people," she said.

The film produced by the girls begins and ends with the theme of love for Somalia and pride in a culture that sets them apart, giving them a distinct identity living in the Twin Cities.

Wearing traditional clothing like the hajib, the long head scarf that draws so much attention, as well as the khamar, which covers the upper part of the body, is an important symbol of identity for many of the girls.

Yusuf says the traditional dress emphasizes modesty and helps others focus more on her personality than her looks. Some girls explain in the film that they are not forced to wear traditional clothing; it is not something they have to do.

It is something "I chose to do to show respect for myself, my family and my God," Saida Hassan said.

Bibi Abdalla explains it is comforting when she sees someone else also wearing the hajib and she knows immediately if a woman is from Somalia, Ethiopia or another country by the way she wears the khamar.

"We don't want to be far away from our people, and that's one of the reasons we wear the hajib," Marian Muna Farah said.

On the other hand, Hibo Mohamed, who has lived here 11 years, describes herself as "pretty Americanized." Appearing in the film wearing a lime-green T-shirt and large hoop earrings, she said of the hajib, "I know I am Muslim, and I don't see that I have to wear it to prove that I am."

Ellen Tomson can be reached at etomson@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5455. What: Premiere of "Two Homes, One Dream: Somalis in Minnesota"

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Minnesota History Center

Cost: Admission is free.