HUMA Doctoral Fellow Billan Omar publishes first book: "Soomaali Mi’yaa? Exploring Somalinimo in South Africa"
Doctoral Research Fellow Billan Omar has published her book, Soomaali Mi’yaa? Exploring Somalinimo in South Africa, this month with Langaa Research Publishing Common Initiative Group. This book is based on Billan's masters research ethnographic data collection following the Somali community in Bellville, Cape Town and finding the meanings of Somali personhood in diasporic contexts.
Soomaali Mi'yaa? invites you to explore what it means to be Somali in South Africa. This captivating ethnography is a deep dive into the heart of the Somali community in Cape Town, following a young Somali woman's journey of discovery as she grapples with her own sense of identity while uncovering the experiences of others. Through intimate conversations and insightful observations, Billan reveals how this vibrant community navigates belonging in a dynamic and sometimes challenging context. She explores the intricate ways Somalinimo (Somaliness) is constructed and maintained through cultural tools like clan ties, language, and faith, showcasing the diverse experiences of Somali migrants and refugees.
Blending personal reflection with rigorous research, Soomaali Mi'yaa? offers a nuanced understanding of identity formation, the challenges of belonging in the diaspora, and the search for home in a globalised world. Somalis in Cape Town are nimble-footed, forever marked by their journeys, and their Somalinimo travels with them. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in migration, culture, and the complexities of identity.
"Billan Omar has written a moving and well-observed ethnography of Somali life in Bellville. The book delves into what is retained and what is lost through migration, and the fluidity and openness of Somali identity, or Somalinimo, in diasporic life." -- Matthew Wilhelm- Solomon (PhD), Senior Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, University of the Witwatersrand
"An insightful exploration of Somali identity in Cape Town, this work elegantly builds upon literature while offering fresh, reflexive insights. Drawing from auto-ethnographic methods, Billan Omar illuminates complex narratives of identity and belonging, significantly expanding connections and deepening understanding." -- Ingrid Brudvig (PhD), Digital Anthropologist
Billan is pursuing a PhD in Social Anthropology at UCT, funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York in their AI Ethics in Africa Project in which her current research is focused. She received an MA in Social Anthropology from UCT and a BA in International Studies and Anthropology from Macalester College.
To access the book:
African Books Collective: Soomaali Mi’yaa?
