Google says Bariis Iskukaris is Somalia’s national dish, so why is it a problem?
When we began Baati UK back in 2018, we immediately realised that we were walking on an untrodden path. If you wrote 'baati' on Google, an Indian dish was not only the first thing you saw, but pretty much the only thing you saw. It would take somebody extra effort to guide the search engine a little further to find the Somali clothing.
It was not only the baati that was not written about; it extended to other aspects of the Somali culture. Ask Google today what the national dish of Somalia is and you will get Bariis Iskukaris! Which Somali convinced Google of that? Or was it a Somali in the first place?
As Somali people, our culture and customs are not documented much. The reason lies in the amalgamation of various factors. Firstly, we stick to oral tradition; storytelling and poetry are our kind of thing. This does mean we miss out on the benefits of documenting things physically. Secondly, and this might be a personal take, I don’t think Somali people are interested in telling others about themselves and our culture. It's like the Somali community sits in a large circle and is consumed with chatter, heated debates, and banter amongst themselves. We are uninterested in the people beyond that circle. Since this is an opinion, I would like to clarify that I mean in terms of engagement, not awareness. Somali people love to know what's going on around the world, but it’s like the relationship is as if they look at the rest of the world through a one-way mirror; observe others but that’s about it.
Growing up in the UK, many people have asked me and others around me about the basics of our culture; What do you eat? What do you wear at weddings? What languages do you speak? My answers were always curt and short. Honestly, I was young and often not enthusiastic in these conversations. People expressing interest in my culture was a bit odd to me at the time and something I wasn’t used to, but I did find the reactions interesting. People often expressed surprise at whatever I told them; did they not think we would have intricate and unique wedding outfits? Were they not expecting our food to look similar to other countries that border the Indian Ocean? Why did they find it hard to believe that Somalia is widely considered to have only one native language? What exactly were they expecting?
My mindset at that time was wrong in so many ways. If I do not tell people about my culture, who will? If we, the Somali community, collectively do not document our culture and practices, then someone else will. And they will be free to frame it in any way that they want and potentially, intentionally or unintentionally, misinform the masses. So, from the very onset of our venture at Baati UK, we wanted to contribute in a small way by providing information about one of the most staple Somali clothing; the baati. We hope to write a ton, shedding light on its history, styling, care, and so much more. We hope similarly, that others do the same for other aspects of our culture so our culture can be documented and preserved.
To conclude, cultures of the world fall into two groups; those who express their cultures and those who don’t. And the issue with those who don’t is that there will be others who will make bold, incorrect unsolicited claims on their behalf like Bariis Iskukaris is the national dish of Somalia!
If you find anything interesting in our blogs, have feedback or even a criticism, do leave a comment. We want to start discussions and learn about your thoughts, wherever you are in the world and whatever perspective you may have.