"I feel like today’s Somali youth are slowly losing the Somali culture, and they are doing it on purpose. I was raised by my parents on the Somali customs and was told that I’m a Somali foremost and that Islam is our religion. I was taught our valuable traditions from a young age. The minute Somalis migrated to other countries; they started adapting and claiming other cultures; forsaking the one of our forefathers. They think that it’s a sign of progress and civilisation. How many nations have lost their culture? Dismissing the Somali culture in the curriculum of schools led to injustice, family breakdowns, and not applying our noble virtues. I wish we could go back to what our ancestors used to practice which was based on the Islamic religion and the Somali traditions."
(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
"Anigu waxaan aaminsanahay in dhalinyaradda maantaay ay ka faanan dhaqanka iyo hiddaha Soomaaliyeed. Dhaqankii aan kusoo barbaaray oo hooyo iyo aabbo igu soo koriyeen waxay ahayd mid ku salaysana Soomaalinimo. Inaan ahay qof Soomaali ah oo dhaqan iyo diin qurux badan haysta. Waxaan ku baran jirnay wakhtigii ciyaalka madarasada/dugsiga. Dhalinyaradda xiligan joogta waxay aamineen fikir aan kaas ahayn oo dhaqankeena ka hor imaanaya. Waxaan raacnay dhaqankii dadkii aan usoo qaxnay oo hormar lamoodo. Meeqo qowmiyado baa ka lumay dhaqankii. Waxaa meesha ka baxday ilmihii malcaamad/dugsi soo gali jiray ee dhaqanka suuban ee Illaahay ina faray soo baran jiray in anay jirin markay taasi meeshi ka baxday waxaay dhashay dhibaatooyin ay ka mid yihiin qaqdaro badan, furniin badan, xishood la aan iyo mas'uul daro. Waxaan rajeynaya inaan ku noqono dhaqankeenii oo ku saleysana diinta Islaamka iyo caadooyin wanaagsan."
(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
