Xalwo Boqolsoon is a standout example of Somali entrepreneurial success. Known for its delicious snacks and sweets, this multi-million-dollar brand has become a staple in Mogadishu, beloved by people from all walks of life.

With outlets at major junctions in Mogadishu, open 24/7, Xalwo Boqolsoon is always there for its customers. From students grabbing a quick snack to families preparing for special occasions, the brand serves everyone. During Eid, their popularity skyrockets, with long lines of eager customers waiting to buy their products.

Xalwo Boqolsoon offers a wide variety of treats, including cakes, biscuits, xalwo (a Somali jelly-like sweet), nac nac loos (a circular sweet made with peanuts), sin sin (a rectangular sesame seed sweet), and many more. This range of products ensures there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

What sets Xalwo Boqolsoon apart is its inclusivity. Despite Somalia’s economic challenges, their products are priced to suit everyone—from working-class families to the wealthy. Unlike many other large brands that only accept U.S. dollars, Xalwo Boqolsoon proudly accepts Somali shillings, making their treats accessible to all.

Their business model is also unique. Xalwo Boqolsoon supplies its products to independently owned shops, allowing them to use the brand name. This ensures quality while enabling expansion without directly managing every outlet. They also avoid clustering their shops, ensuring each location serves its own market without competition from another.

Even with its success, Xalwo Boqolsoon faces competition from other brands like Xalwo Bay iyo Bakoool. However, its smart strategies and loyal customer base keep it ahead of the game.

Xalwo Boqolsoon is more than a business; it’s a symbol of Somali resilience and innovation. By offering quality products and staying connected to the local community, the brand has built a legacy that continues to grow. For anyone visiting Mogadishu, Xalwo Boqolsoon is a must-try, showcasing the best of Somali sweets and the spirit of entrepreneurship.

There’s a lot of beautiful and historical cities in Somalia. Berbera, Merca, Kismaayo, Hergeisa Galkacyo, Saylac, Lascanood, the list goes on. Why is Mogadishu only the spotlight? Also did the Somali government in the past work on these cities or only focused on mogadishu

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Asalamu aleykum. Im usually not the type to be a hater. I try to treat everyone equally no matter what. Qaar ka mid ah Hindida halkan ku nool (Sweden) mararka qaarkood they can be slightly lighter than me or the same skin tone as me , laakiin waxay i eegaan as if I’m worthless and they’re above me. Being darker is not relevant tbh, but i just think it’s weird. I remember back when I went to an international high school we had this guy come and talk about philosophy or some shit like that. He was a university professor apparently. Now we were in class and he was talking about this concept I can’t remember exactly what it was, but there was a bad guy and a good guy.

He kept changing the student who will be an example of a good guy but kept me as the bad guy everytime. This Chinese girl in our class raised her hand up and asked why he’s not changing students for the bad guy. He said ”no it’s fine he doesn’t care” in his clear accent. I stood my ground and told him that I don’t want to be apart of his dumb experiment. I was standing in the front of the class as he kept changing students for the “good guy”. He grabbed me by my shoulder and I removed it in an aggressive way and said don’t touch me and he got shocked. Then my teacher goes “Abdi please relax” and I yelled at her too. Next thing u know and I’m getting a lecture on respecting elders.

It’s so weird to me. Even on the train they give bad stares, especially the women. Wallahi you’d think I’m hating on them, but in reality I actually like Indians. When I was in Kenya the best people that I met over there were Indians. My Indian friends at school were the reason that I passed my IGCSE’s. The Indians over there were sort of white, kinda like in the Bollywood movies lol. But wallahi I don’t understand. Where do some** of the darker skinned Indians get the idea that they are better? It sort of gives me a perception that when you’re constantly hated on, you also want to find people that you can hate on. I wouldn’t be posting this if I was exaggerating. And also, how come the ones who were whiter that I met in Kenya were way more generous? Btw I’d like to clarify that this doesn’t apply to all of them, but yeah this is kinda funny ngl.

ive read somewhere that some somalis, up to 10% in some places, have the straight hair variant of EDAR gene, and that makes few % of them to have straight hair. is this true

pic related

https://preview.redd.it/mxuhj5wese4e1.jpg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ada6e25cd56f0b7375c22a412d138886ad03ef99

My theory is the fact that Somalis have high lactose tolerance, therefore a higher vitamin D requirement in combination with a genetic heritage from the tropical climate zone, thus normative vitamin D intake from the sun results in high autism rates when migrating to the west, where these readily available vitamin D sources are not in ready supply because of less sun and less vitamin D rich foods that are endemic to Somalia.

If my theory holds true, South Sudanese migrants should have similar autism rates because they have similar lactose tolerance and have the same latitude as Somalis. Perhaps S Sudanese and Somalis should be jointly tested and researched.

Syndicalism is the establishment of trade unions to take over ownership and control over the means of production. In Somalia it would entail multiple trade unions in every state each aimed at creating as many jobs in as many sectors as possible for the state, then forming alliances with similar unions in other states to integrate unions and create even more jobs. This can culminate in an entire economy built upon the needs of the workers. Not the owners. Although private enterprises that weather the storm may find a lucrative consumer market at the end of their journey.

Syndicalism is not communism. It’s not about creating a strong state. The only aim is pursuing the workers interests. Which in Somalia’s case means making sure Somalis in Somalia are well off and wealthy.

The union exists only to create jobs so corporate profits go exclusively towards social security/welfare of the workers and more job creation. Whatever the workers need whether thats higher wages or better quality of life for them and their children the union follows no laws except aid the workers. If it’s in the interests of the workers to militarize then the military will be established. If a new currency needs to be made for the unions to trade between each other then the state simply gets cut out end of story.

Eventually the trade unions will no longer need the formal state to shield them and will be able to abolish the state, becoming the state afterwards.

Thoughts?

Hey everyone**,**
I’m no expert, but after watching a podcast about "the West is keeping Africa poor," something really stuck with me: cooking indoors with an open flame using charcoal is a serious health hazard. Yet, it seems like no one talks about it.

Is this truly the case? Any experts or insights would be greatly appreciated!

In the past agropastoralists (nomads who also farm) would farm maize and sorghum seasonally and store them underground in sacks called 'bakaaro', hence the name suuqa bakaaraha in Xamar.

During the drought when there is no milk, they would dig up the sacks and eat the stored grains till the rains arrived.

The temperature underground remains relatively cool and stable, this protect the grains from the heat, pests, and the elements, extending their shelf life until they are needed.

This practice continued until the NGOs arrived and started giving people free food!

Why doesn't the government re-create this practice on a larger scale (or build storage facilities) so we can prevent famine without having to beg the world.

Thoughts

I always see people spreading harmful stereotypes about us. So I wanted to bring some positivity. What are some positive traits of Somalis?

1. Dependence on Imported Foods:

Somalis heavily rely on wheat (imported) and rice, which are not locally grown in significant quantities. This makes the country vulnerable to global price fluctuations & supply chain disruptions.

2. Water Scarcity:

Rainfed agriculture is unreliable due to Somalia’s arid climate and erratic rainfall patterns.

Most water resources are concentrated along the Juba and Shabelle rivers in the south, limiting large-scale agriculture elsewhere.

3. Underutilization of Local Crops:

Drought-resistant crops like sorghum, millet, cassava, and legumes are underproduced and underutilized despite their suitability to the climate

4. Cultural Preferences:

Traditional Somali diets favor imported grains and products, reducing demand for locally grown staples like sorghum or millet.

5. Lack of Farming Techniques:

Farmers face challenges with soil degradation, lack of irrigation infrastructure, and limited access to modern agricultural practices.

How Somalia Can Improve

1. **Water Harvesting and Management:

Rainwater Harvesting: Build reservoirs, small dams, and water catchment systems to collect and store rainwater.

Irrigation Infrastructure: Expand irrigation systems, especially in southern regions, to ensure year-round farming.

2. Promotion of Drought-Resistant Crops:

Encourage the cultivation of sorghum, millet, maize, pigeon peas, and mung beans, which are well-suited to arid climates.

Introduce value-added products like sorghum flour for laxoox or porridge to increase demand.

3. Education and Awareness:

Dietary Change Campaigns: Educate communities on the nutritional value and versatility of local crops. Demonstrate how they can replace imported staples.

Cooking Training: Empower women and households with recipes and techniques to make local grains and tubers more appealing.

4. Soil Conservation and Agroforestry:

Use permaculture techniques to restore degraded soils, improve water retention, and grow crops sustainably.

Plant drought-resistant trees alongside crops to improve soil health, reduce erosion, and provide additional resources like fodder and fuelwood.

So, growing up, my family was really social. Back home, our house was always full of people, relatives, family friends, neighbors, guests, basically, it was never quiet. We were that family everyone knew, and I honestly loved it. There were always people around to tell stories, watch things together, hang out with, or just fill the house with energy.

But then we moved abroad about five years ago, and everything changed. No visitors, no family friends, no gatherings. We barely even see anyone anymore. I’ve told my parents that we should try to build some connections, but their response is always, “Why do we need anyone? People are a burden.” And even when we do get invited to something, like a wedding or a family gathering, we don’t go.

It’s such a huge shift from how things used to be, and I don’t understand why my parents have become so disconnected. We know people here, maybe not as many as back home, but enough that we wouldn’t feel this lonely if we actually reached out. It’s just... we don’t.

I’ve tried to bring this up, but they’re set on this idea that life is easier without other people. I miss what we had back home—those connections, the sense of community. Even though I have friends here, I feel like I’m missing something deeper, like ties within my community or with older relatives. We haven’t even visited some of our closest family since moving here, and it’s just weird to me.

Am I overthinking this? I just don’t want to feel like an outsider every time I go somewhere that is for my community. Has anyone else dealt with something similar? How do you navigate it?

Welp.. I’m looking to start a business for the girls in xamar next year (2025) inshallah… I went to xamar for 2 weeks last month and the gworls NEED US.

Skin care has become a rising trend in xamar and the girls are looking after their skin but they don’t have access to skincare the way we do in the west and if they do it’s at a extortionate price… I tried to buy a cream that finished went I landed and the price was 30$… I bought it for £14 in the uk then it clicked the girls need me - I’m now set on opening a skincare store for the girls with all skin types and most importantly at a reasonable price because not everyone can afford $30.

I want to visit korea and find a wholesale supplier - I want to get them accessories they would love for skin care - SKIN CARE FRIDGE IS A MUST WITH THE HEAT.

I’ve seen one skin care company in xamar and has multiple stores through out somalia but I can’t speak for its authenticity, I also like to believe they’re flying high in customers because they’re the only business in xamar who has a ‘Korean skincare’ - I want the girls to be up.

Now I’m not sure with how much renting a store would be including renovations… if anyone could help I would loveeeee but I just wanna move back home and help the girls😫

The 50 and up Somalis that grew up and never left Somalia are traumatized, shell shocked, and as a result are mentally challenged enough to see value and purpose in the 4.5 system. Majority of the young people see through this BS but when push comes to shove will fall in line out of peer pressure and fear of losing out.

In today’s era, clans don’t own land. The clan wont provide electricity, gas, or even water in many cases so the idea of “clan territories” only helps politicians. Your “clan interests” is really just a way for the politicians who represent you under the 4.5 system to obfuscate and placate the masses while not addressing any real issues. The fear of losing something you don’t really have keeps these politicians in power. HSM and Ahmed Madobe are both perfect examples of this as their clans only support them out of fear for what the opposition might do. If you criticize HSM to one of his supporters the only response you will get is “but what about farmaajo?”, if you criticize Ahmed Madobe the only response is “but what about HSM?”.

The Somalis who weaponize government to further their clan interests and seek rent will be the biggest losers in the future. The government cant give you business acumen or build your industry. There is only so much rent you can seek from the government. The industrial/agricultural sectors will soon put the service sector on a tight leash, as thats what industrialization entails. The only way to maintain this status quo for clans is to keep Somalia poor except for a few demographics (i believe this is the intention of the FGS).

The Somali historians of tomorrow will look back at Somalia today with disgust. The leaders today who think they are leaving behind legacies will only represent an era of shame for Somalia. An era when young men died over lands they didn’t own houses on.

I have a mix between a Somali and middle eastern nose even though i have no middle eastern ancestry at all. From the front it looks narrow and a bit long but on the side it’s pointy with a high bridge. Not hooked but just pointy.

I wish I had the cute small baby nose that Somali women typically have 😩 my genetics did me dirty

1. Volume Levels Set to Max: Why do we talk like we’re addressing a stadium full of people, even on a quiet phone call? Some say it’s passion; others think we’re trying to out-yell each other. Either way, subtlety is not in our vocabulary.

2. Patience? Never Heard of Her: Waiting isn’t our strong suit, so we often turn to “alternative methods” (read: bribes) to speed things up. Why queue when you can convince someone with a little something extra? Efficiency, Somali style.

3. We’re Humble… Except When We’re Not: Let’s be real, deep down we believe we’re better than everyone—except Arabs, of course. It’s like we have a mental ranking system where everyone else is “inferior.” Spoiler: it’s not helping us win friends or influence people.

List down other negative traits that I forgot

For me (a) I tend to admire people and ethnic groups with minimal upper eye-lid exposure, such as hooded eyes (b) I never join family meetings if it involves more than 1 person because it makes me feel sidetracked (c) I need a minimum of 5 caffeine-related drinks whether coffee or carbonated, per day.

Edit: Oh, I forgot, another weird thing about me is anytime I walk past any pole shaped object in the street in sequenced sets of 4, I need to squint one of my eyes. No idea why. It sounds like OCPD.

Salam y'all I'm here today to refresh ur af Somali haha Just remembered a question our teacher asked us long ago and it goes Say one or more Somali words that start with the Somali alphabet kh but the trick here is that the word should be pure Somali not arabic

When I look at what’s happening in Syria, my heart aches. Brothers, bound by the same religion and culture, are now locked in a deadly struggle for power. Foreign nations have turned their homeland into a battleground for their own interests. It’s heartbreaking to see people who once shared so much slaughtering each other over territory.

What pains me even more is realizing that Somalia has already been in this position—and yet, it seems we’ve learned nothing from it. We’ve lived through the horrors of civil war, where clan rivalries tore us apart and left our nation vulnerable to foreign interference. We know what it means to lose everything to division, but here we are, making the same mistakes all over again.

I see politicians dividing us, manipulating clan loyalties for their own benefit. Instead of uniting us as one people, they’re sowing seeds of mistrust and resentment. And we’re letting them. We’re siding with clans instead of standing for justice, and it’s tearing us apart.

It terrifies me to imagine where this path could lead. If we keep allowing ourselves to be divided, we’ll weaken our nation and open the door for foreign powers to exploit us—just as it happened before, just as it’s happening now in Syria. Our shared faith and culture won’t be enough to protect us if we lose sight of our unity.

I believe we have a choice. We can keep repeating the same painful history, or we can change course. It starts with each of us rejecting the idea that clan loyalty is more important than what’s right. We need to demand leaders who prioritize justice and unity over their own interests.

For me, this isn’t just about politics—it’s about survival. It’s about protecting our identity as Somalis and securing a future where we don’t repeat the mistakes we’ve already lived through. Syria’s tragedy doesn’t have to be ours, but it’s up to us to make sure it isn’t.

I choose to stand for justice over clan, for unity over division, and for peace over chaos. If we all make that choice, I believe we can build a better Somalia—one that finally learns from its past and secures a brighter future for generations to come.

Salam everyone. Hope you're all doing well. Just wanted to ask you all for some advice. How do I deal with laziness and procrastinating?. It's gotten to a point where it's actually making me sad and feel disgusted by myself. I view myself as a looser bcz of the amount of laziness in me. I know that it's not good and wont bring me any good but I just can't help but be lazy and stay in indoors. I am genuinely asking for help in the form of advice or ways I can combat this. Has anyone of u experienced this? And if yes l, how did u overcome this?. Just a brother asking for advice

Has anyone invested in Hobyo port and can tell me what the process is like ?

I’ve noticed this appalling trend of women-only weddings no longer being women-only. And I speak here not of random men coming to these weddings, or a musician or videographer being a man (clearly, whoever organised women-only weddings didn’t think this part through). I speak of the women, usually younger rascals, who record parts of weddings, especially dances, and post them online.

“MY CULTURE >> 😍🇸🇴 #Somalia #SomaliTikTok” will have endless likes, favourites and shares and the video is of a habaryar (or many of them) dancing and shaking their bodies (usually Buranbuur). In what way is this acceptable? These women do not know they’re being recorded to be posted on these platforms. What becomes of a wedding for WOMEN ONLY - and for Islamic reasons - if random men online can view this stuff? And as I say, it’s usually young women on these apps posting this stuff.

Can’t stress enough how shameless this stuff is. It’s shameless enough to post yourself dancing like that, another thing to post others?! But I guess exposing random mature women is not really cared about when people want to get a fake sense of appreciating their own culture. I just hope the people intruded upon in this way don’t see these videos of themselves.

Big basketball fan, love the pro’s and college hoops. I’m from Sudan, so you know I know a thing or two about my Mali’s. This is Abdi Bashir Jr. a sophomore at Monmouth university out of New Jersey. 6”7, only 160 pounds, this guy is box office, my favorite player of the year this season and coming. This could be the very first Somali American in the NBA, averaging 19 a game on consistent splits, he has a beautiful feel for the game, and his bag, call it luggage, it’s heavy, and get this, he has a twin brother that’s cooking up as well. Allahuma Barik. He’s such a good kid, so humble. He’s going to give Somalia the attention the deserve soon🇸🇴

Instead of 5,000 USD per month pay the government officials 2.8 million shillings each. Across 3,500 government officials thats 10 billion shillings that could be washed monthly through them. These guys are useless anyways so paying them in shillings will make them more invested in the country, plus it will put the shilling back in circulation. Paying them in dollars only incentivizes them to leave the country.

Wash the useless shilling with the useless politicians. In one year the shilling could stabilize.

I’ve noticed some confusion or ambiguity regarding this matter, so let’s clarify:

There are Somali by ethnicity and somali by nationality

1. Being Somali ethnically This means your lineage is Somali, and ancestry is traced through the father. (Below is the Somali genealogical chart, which shows that any clan or sub-clan branching off from the listed lineages is considered Somali.)

https://preview.redd.it/x442g7rdx64e1.png?width=1410&format=png&auto=webp&s=d3a9317b752b2f3ea6d3dee8c048e210e89bbb9a

2. Being Somali by nationality or civic identity This means your father belongs to non-Somali ethnic communities residing exclusively within Somalia's territories, in this case the state provides you with an exception to obtain Somali citizenship. Since the country is named Somalia, you would be referred to as Somali.

Im seeing on ig Somalias best team and I was like somalia got a league? Come to find out it’s only in Mogadishu and each city has their own league why? Ngas can’t have soccer nationally?

Recently, posts in this subreddit have seemed to lack depth and quality. I wanted to create an engaging and productive post in this subreddit. I encourage all fellow Somalis to participate in this conversation.

Imagine you're the newly elected President of Somalia. What would your leadership priorities be? What immediate changes would you implement in your first 100 days? Would you follow an existing political ideology, or create a new approach?

How would you tackle key issues like security, economic development, corruption, and healthcare? What role would education and Somali culture play in your vision for the country?

How would you address the divisions among Somalis under your leadership? What steps would you take to foster unity? Additionally, how would you tackle the threat of al-Shabaab and ensure the safety of all Somalis?

Finally, how would you strengthen Somalia's relations with neighboring countries and the global community?

I’m excited to hear your diverse ideas and thoughtful visions for Somalia’s future! Let’s spark a meaningful conversation on how we can shape the nation’s leadership together.