 | Somalian Traditions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Khat Tradition | The Somali Nomads House | Female Genital Mutilation | |
Khat Tradition
Khat is made from the leaves of a tree that can reach a height of about 4 to 5 meters, with very deep roots that allow it to remain green both in the dry season and the rainy season. One of the trees is certainly native to the high mountains of Ethiopia, where Somalis currently obtain their supplies. The other comes from Kenya, and it is mainly found in the south of Somalia, where it is called mirongi, the swahili word for khat. In this case, the leaves are not chewed, but rather the bark is consumed. These trees do not produce any fruit but constantly sprout with young shoots.
Selling Time
Khat usually arrives between around 10:30 to 11:00 by plane at the airports of the country's major cities. It is then transported by 4WD vehicles to the selling locations.
There, wholesalers and retailers engage in unimaginable chaos. There is shouting, pushing, arguing, and reconciling to strike deals together. Bags filled with branches and dripping with water are thrown around to prevent the leaves from drying out in other vehicles. These vehicles then speed off in all directions of the city, converging at various selling points. At these points, attractive women, beautiful, smiling, and well-built as Somalis prefer them, but true tigresses when it comes to business, sit on chairs, and display the goods in front of them. Occasionally, they take the khat out of the bags to sprinkle water on them, a trick to make the khat shine for passersby.
At the same time, all Somali men of adult or adolescent age, whether they are officials, office workers, businessmen, or simple laborers, have only one thing on their minds, without exception: to get to the khat market as quickly as possible to get the best bouquet for those who can afford it. For others without money, they find a way to graze today without paying. They call it "shaxaad," which means rolling with a friend. They rush through their work or come up with numerous excuses to leave the office before the scheduled time, or they simply leave discreetly. Then, they go to the khat vendors, and once they have the bouquet in their pocket, they chat, discussing various topics and laughing loudly because they are already in a cheerful mood, anticipating the grazing time around 1:00 to 1:30 in the afternoon.
Social Aspect of Khat
For a Somali, chewing khat is a way to have a social life. 95% of khat consumers are men, and they typically chew it in the afternoons. Chewing khat has some advantages for Somalis. When they gather around khat, they resolve many conflicts, negotiate business deals, and make decisions that are often forgotten the next day. Since this plant has a stress-relieving substance, at least initially, the person becomes calmer and more attentive to their conversation partner. Therefore, if a father is hesitant to give his daughter's hand in marriage, asking for it might be done in the presence of khat, increasing the likelihood that he will agree. For a household experiencing discord, attempts will be made to find a solution during khat chewing, as well as for a person in debt.
The Khat Ceremonial
Khat is not chewed just anywhere or in any manner. First, there need to be several people, and they must go to places designated for such occasions (they are called mijilis) or to a house, but never in a place exposed to the wind. In both cases, mattresses for one person are placed along the wall of the room so that the middle of the room remains empty. Then, two or three pillows are placed stacked in the middle of each mattress, allowing two men to sit, lying on their sides shoulder to shoulder and leaning on each side of the pillows.
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In the middle of the room are thermos bottles filled with very sweet black tea, flavored with cardamom and cinnamon. There is also a brazero with charcoal that is maintained throughout the afternoon to keep it warm and lively because if the chewer doesn't sweat, he may not reach what is called "mirqaan" or euphoria. In front of each person, an ashtray, a glass of water, a tea cup, and of course, their bundle of khat wrapped in a small clean and damp towel (tuwaal) are placed. Once everything is set up, the chewing and chatting begin. |
| Only at home, women may be admitted to the room reserved for khat, but they generally content themselves with drinking Coca-Cola. | |
The Negative Aspects of Khat
While khat has its beneficial aspects, it also has its malevolent sides.
- It financially endangers the already precarious survival of thousands of Somali households. A family's entire income can be spent on purchasing khat.
- Khat directly or indirectly harms health as well. It is certain that a Somali with insufficient funds would prefer to skip meals rather than deprive themselves of khat.
- Khat also has stimulating effects and makes the consumer insomniac at night, leading many young people to seek nocturnal entertainment venues that expose them to diseases such as AIDS.
Khat is a hindrance to the country's development because Somalis, too preoccupied with chewing every afternoon, dedicate very few hours to work in the morning. They often neglect their family, the education of their children, their work, and their general civic duties.