Somali Community in the UK

[Mr. Gello - The proud Soma]

There has been a Somali presence in the UK since the nineteenth century at a time when most of the Black Africans living in England were either servants or slaves. Sailors from British Somaliland first settled in port cities of London, Bristol, Liverpool and Cardiff. However, the majority of Somalis now residing in the UK arrived post 1988 when the escalation in civil conflict provoked a mass exodus from the country. Most Somali refugees eventually settled in former colonial countries like Britain, where subsequent migration occurred periodically from the late 1980’s to the present depending on the political situation in Somalia. Although accurate statistics are hard to come by, Somalis represent one of the largest refugee communities in the UK. Between 1985 and the end of 2006, Home Office figures show that Somalia consistently remained in the top ten asylum applicant producing countries in the UK. Despite this, the 2001 Census only gave 43,532 persons as being born in Somalia. Clearly, the under-estimation of Somalis in the UK can be attributed to the failure to classify Somalis as a distinct group of migrants; instead Somalis are subsumed within the closest monitoring category – Black African.

 

Almost all Somali asylum-seekers to arrive in the UK prior to 1998 were granted refugee status or indefinite leave to remain (ILTR), since then the proportion of refused permission to remain has increased considerably and stood at 72% of initial decisions in 2004. Moreover, the Home Office has since decided that those applying for asylum application must confirm proof that they are being persecuted by a state authority. Given this procedure and no functioning central authority in Somalia, it’s very difficult to define exactly what constitutes persecution in the case of a Somali asylum seekers.

 

In recent years the number of Somalis in the UK has dramatically increased, due largely to the arrival of secondary refugee migrants from other European countries, most of whom already gained refugee status or citizenship in their respective countries. This group of migrants have formed a significant number of Somalis entering the UK since 2000 and have settled in cities with already established Somali populations such as London, Manchester, Birmingham and Sheffield.

 

Any further contributions would be welcomed. This is for independently funded Policy institute.

 

Cheers!

[SayidSomal]

the under-estimation of Somalis in the UK can be attributed to the failure to classify Somalis as a distinct group of migrants; instead Somalis are subsumed within the closest monitoring category – Black African.

Not anymore - but don't worry we have many excuses left for being invisible officially, but are seen on the streets.

[Ibtisam]

Any further contributions would be welcomed. This is for independently funded Policy institute.

I can give you a bit more info, but first a bit more detailed about how and for what the info will be used. Not too much details, but you know, the areas, objective, purpose etc.

[SayidSomal]

^^ still wary of policy institutes eh Ibti - i don't blame you, they probably turn into somalis are here only for benefits and not for security etc blah blah. like the case in sweden.

 

check this one out - they have contacted me before - and i turned them down.

[Ibtisam]

^^^Well that is the general trend, to find 100 people on benefits, and then make sweeping conclusions such as 95% of Somalis are on benefits and council houses, with minimum of 10kids, 5 of them with criminal records. :rolleyes:

 

They were cultural society, but now radicalisation of the youth yad yad ya. I got contacted for their research on Somali youth and radicalisation, did not go.

 

The somali community really does not need anymore beating.

[SayidSomal]

there was this channel four programme recently about 6 or 7 months ago - where this somali woman and one community "leader" from our area was being interviewed. they said the woman recieved over £30k a year from the UK tax payers and then showed clip of her saying "it is not enought". the so called community leader then goes on to say "ah if there was no benefits we would work". i still see the guy.

[Mr. Gello - The proud Soma]

I agree Ibt, but the only way to dispel the misconception surrounding Somalis is through research. Research influences policy.

 

Sayid - do somalis now have their own monitoring caterogisation now? I wasnt sure there a specific category. I understand they have this in Tower Hamlets but this a national wide thing as well? I use to think that East African Asian was for Somalis until i realised it was for Asians from Africa specifically in Kenya,Uganda and TZ. In fact I ticked the boxes many times.

 

I am guessing you're Barking and Dagaham? That woman was a disgrace and the story was true.

[Ibtisam]

^^Hence WhyI am asking for the direction you and your organisation is taking before we provide some info.

 

WHY WOULD Somalis be EAST AFRICA ASIANS?? :confused: :mad:

 

Sayid:

 

I saw that, the women cooking in the kitchen, and she had four kids? Mr. Gelo She was just a mother minding her business. The key to documentary is "EDITING" They framed it around the key words "It is not enough"

 

Community leader my shoes, only thing he contributed in that documentary, *Aah never mind, whats done is done.

[Fabregas]

I use to think that East African Asian was for Somalis until i realised it was for Asians from Africa specifically in Kenya,Uganda and TZ.

 

[Ibtisam]

^^Stop laughing, it is not funny, it is rather sad.

[Fabregas]

east african asian, that a good one though, innit i usually tick carab...as my 28 the granfather was an arab---

[SayidSomal]

do somalis now have their own monitoring caterogisation now?

not nation wide one on every aspect, but london boroughs on the aspect of education. tower hamlets started it on langugage spoken at home bases not on ethnicity, we (lambeth) took it to the next level and are now pushing it forward on national level with support of the refugee council.

 

That woman was a disgrace and the story was true.

NO! the programme maker were the disgraced ones - all she was saying was that this benefits were not something to leave by, it was not a life of luxury as they were trying to potray.

 

East African Asian was for Somalis

what ever gave you that idea - and on top of that you are doing a research on somalis in the uk. please what ever you do try to minimise the negative impact - Just Don't labels African Arabs next. we have enought problems already. but you are on the right tract to ask for information first - i am sure Ibti will set you up with right path to gaining thos info you seek.

[Ibtisam]

^^Why have you volunteered me dear. I'm not giving any info unless uu soo quufoo what his intended use and purpose is.

 

BG You mean they told you your 180 awoow was Arab. sorry it is a lie! Waax Carabi meesha maa joogo! :rolleyes: Self hating somalis annoy me innit. What is wrong with being Afrikan baal, they are doing much better than us anyway and we think we are too good for them. :rolleyes:

[Fabregas]

^ there is enough documentation from scholars in the medieval ages and the tombs still exist. Makra, who is trying to deny our heritage?lol.

 

 

ibti, sometimes Afrikanku iyaga no didan AFricanimada. Once upon a time there was this Pan-African who was adamant that Somalis were Arabs/Yemens mixed with Africans. And hence I could not be counted as true African because i didn't have the typical features like him. Thus perhaps it is good we have our section now!

[SayidSomal]

^^^Lol @ volunteered me!! i didn't know such things exist, volunteering someone.

 

my 28 the granfather was an arab

and his 28 grandfather was African! Right?

 

 

Ibti - confused somalis! - my sentiments exactly - i sometimes think, since we didn't write our history down, passing through orally has turned it into chineese whisper down the generation. i.e where it might have started with "An Arab came by the shore yesterday" 100 years later the story changed to "we came from the Arab that landed on that shore 100 years ago" and so on and so forth.