The fact that Somalis have had to be a nomadic people for so long has imbued them with a spirit of independence and self sufficiency. In the incredibly rich legacy of Somali oral traditions the camel has become symbolic of the people’s tenacity and strength, but also their determination not to be subjugated by colonial powers. Much of Somalia is an arid, near semi-desert environment, one in which only the very hardiest survive – is it any wonder then that pastoralists revere and eulogise the camel. It is said that there are some 46 words for camel in Somali.
Camels have a unique physiology that allows them to survive and thrive in some of the world’s most hostile environments. Their metabolism enables them to store water in the bloodstream and their body is capable of controlled fluctuations in temperature. Their humps store fat and they have a three chambered stomach in order to maximise the efficiency of nutrient intake. They are sharp sighted and have an acute sense of hearing and smell. Camels have an unusually robust immune system that is particularly effective in fighting off diseases which affect other animals, such as foot-and-mouth and rinderpest.
In Western folklore and literature camels have been much maligned. Sadly, it is easy to ridicule the unusual or that which one does not fully understand. Anyone familiar with The just so stories of Rudyard Kipling will recall the tale entitled How the camel got its hump. Camels have been portrayed as cantankerous, ill-tempered and lazy beasts. Any conversation with those gathering at Senlaola Hoolaha, Hargeisa’s camel market will soon disabuse one of such an erroneous notion. Camel-breeders and camel-herders are united in stating that in normal circumstances the camel is calm, intelligent, supremely patient and often affectionate. With Somalia and Somaliland having approximately 6 million camels they really should know.
Somali Camels
In an unforgiving sun-seared landscape such as Somalia few creatures are as revered as the camel. So integral has been to the lives of the people of the region that the creature has been written and spoke of as one might of a wife, mother, sister or daughter. Whilst essentially a beast of burden and a means of transport down the ages during times of peace and war, the camel has been viewed as a blessing – a veritable gift from Allah the Munificent. The Qu’ran invokes the camel as an invitation to contemplate the wonders of the universe: Do they not look at the camels? How were they formed? (Sura 88, Aya 17) The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) gave a special status to the camel. He chose to deliver his valedictory sermon from the back of a camel. His favourite camel was called Al-Khaswa – She of the cut-ear-tips – the Mosque at Qoba’ covers the exact spot where it knelt when the Prophet (pbuh) first arrived in Median after leaving Mecca.
The fact that Somalis have had to be a nomadic people for so long has imbued them with a spirit of independence and self sufficiency. In the incredibly rich legacy of Somali oral traditions the camel has become symbolic of the people’s tenacity and strength, but also their determination not to be subjugated by colonial powers. Much of Somalia is an arid, near semi-desert environment, one in which only the very hardiest survive – is it any wonder then that pastoralists revere and eulogise the camel. It is said that there are some 46 words for camel in Somali.
Camels have a unique physiology that allows them to survive and thrive in some of the world’s most hostile environments. Their metabolism enables them to store water in the bloodstream and their body is capable of controlled fluctuations in temperature. Their humps store fat and they have a three chambered stomach in order to maximise the efficiency of nutrient intake. They are sharp sighted and have an acute sense of hearing and smell. Camels have an unusually robust immune system that is particularly effective in fighting off diseases which affect other animals, such as foot-and-mouth and rinderpest.
In Western folklore and literature camels have been much maligned. Sadly, it is easy to ridicule the unusual or that which one does not fully understand. Anyone familiar with The just so stories of Rudyard Kipling will recall the tale entitled How the camel got its hump. Camels have been portrayed as cantankerous, ill-tempered and lazy beasts. Any conversation with those gathering at Senlaola Hoolaha, Hargeisa’s camel market will soon disabuse one of such an erroneous notion. Camel-breeders and camel-herders are united in stating that in normal circumstances the camel is calm, intelligent, supremely patient and often affectionate. With Somalia and Somaliland having approximately 6 million camels they really should know.
As well as having the largest population of camels Somalia is the number one producer of camel milk. Incredibly even during the jiilaal (dry season) mature female camels are capable of giving up to 12 litres of milk a day. Camel milk is low in fat and sugar; but rich in iron, potassium and Vitamin C, it also stays fresh longer than cow’s milk. For the beauty conscious it contains higher levels lanolin – a natural moisturizer that helps keep the skin smooth and younger looking. It is either drunk fresh or in its fermented form which is called sussa. Such is the demand for camel milk that there is increased commercialisation of camel milk production in Puntland. There are also plans afoot to establish processing plants in Kenya at Garissa and Isiolo possibly with assistance from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Whilst it is the female that is the provider of milk, the male is invariably the pack animal. The five types of camel in Somalia (Benadir, Dolbahanta, Guban, Mugugh and Ogaden) are variants of the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) Ownership of camels traditionally has afforded the owner considerable prestige. Camels have been prized gifts and because of their size the meat of a male camel a mark of honour. The piece of fat that makes up a camel’s hump is called ammaan (praise) and is usually offered to a chief guest who will eat it raw. Camel meat is noted for being disease free and is low in cholesterol. Enterprising members of the Somali Diaspora as far afield as Minnesota have been importing camel meat, something that is not only tasty but has a wealth of associations with the homeland. Camel leather too has always had a range of uses and in the past was used to make lebed (a vessel used for drinking milk or carrying ghee)
In the ancient world, camels were an essential element in trade and commerce. 4,000 years ago frankincense, myrrh, spices and salt blocks were being transported by camels around the Gulf of Aden. It is recorded that the fabled Queen of Sheba made use of a vast camel train en route to meet King Solomon. As well as trade, camels have played a military role in the rise and fall of empires and have been the cause of countless skirmishes between rival clans. Even the British recognized the remarkable bond between Somalis and the camel and established the Somaliland Camel Corps – a force ideally suited to operating across a challenging terrain.
Whilst times are changing a Somali people without reference to the camel would be like Somalia without the acacia tree – a poorer place indeed. To discover something of the real importance of this remarkable creature one only needs to listen to pastoral verse rich in tribute to the camel where it is given a prominence second only in importance to Islam itself – praise indeed.
By Mark T Jones
Aource: Somalilandpress
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