The first Somalis in London were sailors living around the docks. When the Merchant Navy downsized, Somali ex-sailors found it difficult to obtain new jobs.
The 1960s and 1970s saw Somali wives and children arrive in London to join their husbands. The 1980s and 1990s brought an influx of refugees to London from Somalia, now a country torn apart by civil strife.
Somali society and the state are now considered to have completely broken down. There is no centralised state power.David J. Griffiths 'Somali and Kurdish Refugees in London: New identities in the Diaspora'
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Somali sailors have worked on British ships since the 19th century when Somaliland, as it was then called, was under British rule.
Like other foreign sailors, they formed a transient population living around the docks. There was little intermarriage between Somali men and local women, as many of the men were working to support their families back home.
From World War II until the 1970s, a number of Somali seamen were employed by the British Merchant Navy.
A few Somali restaurants and night clubs operated in Tower Hamlets, but closed as the Merchant Navy declined, ending seafaring opportunities for Somalis.
During the 1960s and 1970s there was an influx of Somali wives and children joining their husbands in London. Unfortunately, many of these ex-sailors were unable to find new employment due to their lack of marketable skills.
Somalia became independent in 1960, but warring factions split the country during the 1980s. The Isaq clans of northern Somalia fled the regime of Siad Barre and the bombing of the cities of Hargeisa and Burao in 1988.
As war persisted during the 1990s, there was also an outflow of migrants from the south. Those who came London settled mostly in Tower Hamlets and areas further east, such as Newham. A Somali population has also grown up in Ealing.
Returning home is almost impossible, as Somalia currently has no central government and is still divided by civil war.
The largest population of Somalis outside Somalia itself lives in Britain. Many Somalis today are arriving in London from countries other than Somalia, to which they fled to escape the war.
There are around 70,000 Somalis resident in London. Somali society is traditionally based around membership of clans and most Somalis are Sunni Muslims.
Somali migrants arriving in London have faced a challenge to existing family structures. For example, many women have been widowed by the war, and bring up children alone. Women can also obtain social security payments, meaning they rely less on their male relatives to provide for them. However, this can lead to a loss of status for Somali men.
Owing to their status as asylum seekers or refugees, Somalis experience frequent discrimination, making it difficult for them to obtain employment. Most Somalis also face the challenge of learning English and of not having qualifications gained in Somalia recognised in the UK.
Another problem for the community is the use of khat, a shrub with stimulant qualities. Although chewing khat is a traditional social activity among Somali men, those who are unemployed or suffering from depression may overuse this substance, leading to dependence.
Strong Somalian clan identities, especially among older people, mean that there is no central organisation to represent the community as a whole. However, a number of associations, many founded by women, are beginning to take on this role.
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