Who We Are
The Somali Bantus are the minority ethnic group found in the river banks of Somalia, a country mostly inhabited by Somalis. The Somali Bantus lived in Southern Somalia near the major rivers recognized as Shebelle and Jubba.The Somali Bantus are the descendants of many Bantu ethnic groups found in East part of Africa like Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi.
They were brought to Somalia in the 19th century as slaves by Arabs. Most Somali Bantus who were brought as slaves in 19th centuries were from the tribe of Majindo, Makua, Manyasa, Yao, Zalama, and Zigua. More importantly, the Somali Bantus are culturally, physically, and ethnically different from the Somalis. The Somali Bantus have darker skin, shorter and more muscular with broader features and hard hair than the Somalis. They speak two languages known as Maay-Maay, the official language of the Somali Bantus and Zigua spoken by a group of the Somali Bantus. The Maay-Maay language can be spoken, and well understood by every Somali Bantu member. The other language is known as Zigua, spoken by only one group of the Somali Bantus and nor can all the Somali Bantus speak and understand this language.
They were brought to Somalia in the 19th century as slaves by Arabs. Most Somali Bantus who were brought as slaves in 19th centuries were from the tribe of Majindo, Makua, Manyasa, Yao, Zalama, and Zigua. More importantly, the Somali Bantus are culturally, physically, and ethnically different from the Somalis. The Somali Bantus have darker skin, shorter and more muscular with broader features and hard hair than the Somalis. They speak two languages known as Maay-Maay, the official language of the Somali Bantus and Zigua spoken by a group of the Somali Bantus. The Maay-Maay language can be spoken, and well understood by every Somali Bantu member. The other language is known as Zigua, spoken by only one group of the Somali Bantus and nor can all the Somali Bantus speak and understand this language.
The Somali Bantus are ethnically and culturally different from the general Somali population, and there is a need for culturally relevant services specific to the needs of this community
When civil war broke out in Somalia, the Somali Bantus were vulnerable and they were sent out from their homes and farms by armed people of the Somali clan. Most of the Bantu population was killed, tortured, and raped by the Somalis and famine increased. Most of the Somali Bantus fled from their homes and properties not knowing where they headed. The Bantus walked anywhere from two to four weeks to reach the Kenyan boarder. Some Bantus did not make the journey as they were eaten by lions, Hyenas and other animals. As they headed to the Kenyan boarder, they ate leaves from the trees and waited for rain water to cook with and drink. Most stayed alive by drinking and cooking with muddy and diseased water.
Many diseases, like anemia, spread all across Somalia where some of the Bantus were admitted to the Kenyan hospitals, most of the Bantu families died on their way to Kenyan boarder due to tainted water, no medical treatment and starvation. Some of the Somali Bantus and other Somali groups were brought to the refugee camps by UNHCR but they were divided into three different refugee camps Expecting to find safety in the refugee camps, the Somali Bantus settled down, but after living one to two years in the camps, they faced similar problems they had in Somalia such as torturing, and raping.
When civil war broke out in Somalia, the Somali Bantus were vulnerable and they were sent out from their homes and farms by armed people of the Somali clan. Most of the Bantu population was killed, tortured, and raped by the Somalis and famine increased. Most of the Somali Bantus fled from their homes and properties not knowing where they headed. The Bantus walked anywhere from two to four weeks to reach the Kenyan boarder. Some Bantus did not make the journey as they were eaten by lions, Hyenas and other animals. As they headed to the Kenyan boarder, they ate leaves from the trees and waited for rain water to cook with and drink. Most stayed alive by drinking and cooking with muddy and diseased water.
Many diseases, like anemia, spread all across Somalia where some of the Bantus were admitted to the Kenyan hospitals, most of the Bantu families died on their way to Kenyan boarder due to tainted water, no medical treatment and starvation. Some of the Somali Bantus and other Somali groups were brought to the refugee camps by UNHCR but they were divided into three different refugee camps Expecting to find safety in the refugee camps, the Somali Bantus settled down, but after living one to two years in the camps, they faced similar problems they had in Somalia such as torturing, and raping.
These incidents normally happened when the Somali Bantus went to collect firewood from the jungles. When the torture and rape continued to increase, in the refugee camps, the Somali Bantu leaders from each of the three main camps requested that the UNHCR resettle to a safer place or deport them to their countries of origin like Mozambique, Tanzania, and Malawi. The UNHCR from all three camps rejected this request. After the rejection, Somali Bantu leaders sent a letter to Australia officials but were again denied. The Somali Bantus then reached out to the United States officials and their request was approved. In 2000, the United States government agreed to resettle about 12,000 Somali Bantus all across in the United States. Most Somalis who lived in the refugee camps never believed that the Somali Bantus would resettle in the United States.
When the process of resettlement begun the security of the Somali Bantus in the refugee camps became risk.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) decided to relocate the Somali Bantus to another refugee camps in Kenya that was safer than the refugee camps in which they lived. The new refugee camp, known as Kakuma, housed the Bantus for approximately 2-3 years before their first flight to the United Sates.
12,000 Somali Bantus are now settled in the United States, living a life they never thought of, and a life their ancestors never had.
When the process of resettlement begun the security of the Somali Bantus in the refugee camps became risk.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) decided to relocate the Somali Bantus to another refugee camps in Kenya that was safer than the refugee camps in which they lived. The new refugee camp, known as Kakuma, housed the Bantus for approximately 2-3 years before their first flight to the United Sates.
12,000 Somali Bantus are now settled in the United States, living a life they never thought of, and a life their ancestors never had.