British Somalis: nomads no more

[Chimera]

GOLLUM;856248 wrote:

^ token somalis who i feel do not represent the common somali on the streets of the uk. we'll need to encourage more people to achieve higher in schools, employment and being law-abiding citizens. otherwise we'll become like the African-Caribbean and look to sports, music and entertainment as sources of successes.

Wax walaan, pay attention to the concept of identity, and why its hugely important for young Somali kids to have one that feels authentic and is a genuine representation of their generation. In academics, new generations are always measured through pop-culture, political events, or economic ups and downs. The 80s was the Michael Jackson generation, the 90s the Nirvana generation, the 00s the Hip Hop generation, etc. Therefore these so-called 'token' Somalis are highly important to the identity of a Somali kid, and I'll bet if you had them to look up to during your childhood you wouldn't have mutated into Gollum.

 

Secondly academic achievement is not determined by role-models alone, instead socio-economic status and resources are more important. Somalis came as refugees and had to start from the bottom but with the growing business class of Somalis, the situation is already changing for the better:

 

Immigration and multiculturalism in Britain: New issues in research and policy

 

Somali is now the majority home language for children in many London schools, and young Somalis, Eritreans and Ethiopians are beginning to come through as university students, following young South Asians along trails that they seem to have blazed a decade or so ago. These new multicultural realities are not only making themselves felt at primary or secondary school level, therefore, they now affect life and work also in universities, where a new generation of the descendants of immigrants are coming up as top students, asking many questions that we never heard before. - Werner F. Menski

 

The Academic Rise of Somali students at the Tower Hamlets College

 

Somali students are steadily climbing the Academic ladder at Tower Hamletss College with more students than ever taking A-level and vocational courses - Somali Student Success

 

 

The Changing Face of Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship in Britain

 

New minority groups, emerging despite apparently strong immigration controls, are beginning to replace earlier communities in some places. For example in Southall, the heart of London’s Indian Sikh community, both Somali and Afghan enterprises have appeared. The Afghans occupy a number of large shops sub-divided into low-grade micro malls, mainly selling cheap clothing and household goods. The Somali businesses are on the southern fringe of the Southall shopping district; restaurants and cafés are the most prominent types of activities. In the 1980s, the premises currently occupied by Afghans and Somalis mainly accommodated Indian retailers.-Link

 

SOMALI BUSINESSES DRIVE GROWTH BUT NEED MORE SUPPORT

 

Somali entrepreneurs are actively contributing to productivity in Leicester but are restricted by a lack of financial and business support, new research has found.

 

Academics at De Montfort University (DMU) have completed a year-long study of Somali business activity in the city.

 

DMU’s Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) carried out the research, funded by the Leicestershire Learning and Skills Council.

 

CREME Director at DMU, Professor Monder Ram, said: “Ethnic minority entrepreneurs are renowned contributors to Leicester and the wider UK economy, yet many face challenges in securing finance, accessing new markets and gaining appropriate support for their businesses.

 

“We hope that identifying examples of success will widen the aspirations of new migrant business owners, increasing the number in self-employment and creating job opportunities in existing businesses.

 

“Our findings also provide valuable information for policymakers about how best to support, and benefit from, entrepreneurship among the new immigrant communities that are now present in many British cities.”

 

The study identified a number of drivers and barriers to success:

 

- Somali entrepreneurs are intensely motivated. Many have strong track records in business and practical ownership experience gained before migration. Often they come to Britain in response to frustrated entrepreneurial ambitions elsewhere and the prospect of more expansive trading opportunities. - Link

[Chimera]

NGONGE;856513 wrote:

^^ I'd love to ride that made wave that you're forever on, saaxib. But, here on dry land, the article gives one title and then goes on mainly talking about people returning back to Somalia, etc. In fact, the body of the article does not (really) say much about the difference that Mo's win will make for UK Somalis. It's all about the "some will stay" and "some will go" fence sitting that you're sharing with me here. Something that would have likely happened regardless of Mo's win. Where is the impact? What was the point of the article and how does the title relate to any of it? (save for the couple of sentences at the end and the sub title at the top?).

Your just being your usual tedious self, read the whole article instead of relying on Che to spoonfeed you. Who cares if she also highlights the backmigration that would occur with peace in Somalia, the following bits clearly justify the title:

 

While Jamaican, Nigerian and other black communities have

put down roots

in Britain,

sending MPs to parliament and joining professions

, Somalis have been nomads on a global scale – arriving and then leaving in ever greater numbers over the past 150 years - Nadifa Mohamed.

Mo Farah is a living legend, if there is a British Somali community in a hundred years time, the man will still be remembered, but there is no British Somali from a 100 years ago that you could name today.

 

For those who decide to remain, a new relationship to this country is developing; a sense of curiosity replacing the insularity that has grown over the past 20 years. As second- and third-generation British Somalis put down roots, a community that has been ignored since the first Somali sailors sailed up the Thames will begin to demand attention - Nadifa Mohamed

Now come back and tell me how I enjoy flying Dragons, and live in a magical castle, not a red-herring at all.

[Alpha Blondy]

Chimera;856512 wrote:

'Mo Farah's glorious gold medal symbolises the

emergence

of Britain's Somali community'

- Nadifa Mohamed.

 

It's clear that some of us are here to stay permanently, regardless of the changing fortunes back home. I agree with her on that front, in twenty years time there will be a much more robust and prominent Somali community in Britain represented in all walks of life, that can't be compared to the various communities of the past that left us with a small foundation to stand upon. In this decade alone we have more British icons of Somali origins than the whole preceding century.

 

Indeed nomads no more!

 

^ you're still the benefit cheat next door despite mo farah's heroism. he's now a certified brit becos he's loyalties are no longer in question. for the rest of the benefit cheats and islamo-fascist thugs and ukhti's, there is no place for them in the UK's diverse and mosaic society. I mean where is their loyalties and how can be sure that they’re actually british? What is british-nimo baal? Its become sphinx-like!

 

somalis are failing miserably in all social and economic indicators. can we negotiate two contrasting identities and attest loyalties to both?. the UK is in the midst of a racial war and huge social/racial transformations. groups must chose their sides and be willing to accept the consequences. we must take small victories like mo's success and work to better ourselves towards the mainstream and away from dark forces like extremism, poverty, dependencies and benefit cheating.

 

NG, i think what Ms Mohamed who is a sell-out, self hating and a Somali apologist, traits she shares with our very own Ekow Eshun was trying to say in that rather intangible article is ; somalis can now begin the process of being recognised as british despite their historic ties and what-have-you and this yearning may begin the long stretch home towards the mainstream and acceptance.

[NGONGE]

^^ Not at all, Alpha. I see nothing in that article that shows Nadifa to be a sellout or self hating. If anything, she comes across as being very patriotic. In the context of this article however, she got the balance wrong. Had the title been "The eternal nomads find a British hero" or something along those lines, I would have appluaded this article of hers. But a strong title that says they're nomads NO MORE then goes on to prove the opposite is a bit of a let down to be honest.

 

Chimara, I read the entire article three times, saaxib. Yes, I know, I am tedious like that.

The only conclusion about your twaddle above is either that you can't read or you're just full of BS. I can obviously see that you can read. Naga daa dee.

[Alpha Blondy]

NGONGE;856518 wrote:

^^ Not at all, Alpha. I see nothing in that article that shows Nadifa to be a sellout or self hating. If anything, she comes across as being very patriotic. In the context of this article however, she got the balance wrong. Had the title been "The eternal nomads find a British hero" or something along those lines, I would have appluaded this article of hers. But a strong title that says they're nomads NO MORE then goes on to prove the opposite is a bit of a let down to be honest.

i see. thats interesting and i'm in agreement with you there. yes! she should've used a more appropriate title.