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Who are the Somali Bantu?

 
The term Bantu is a linguistic term a complex family of languages all over Africa. It also refers over 1500 languages. Bantu languages and peoples are the majority of people living south of the Sahara and cover about 2/3 of the land area in the African continent south of the Sahara. Their origin is from Bantu speaking people.   

The term Somali Bantu is a present term referring to a grouping of small ethnic groups in Central Somalia. The Somali Bantus are not native Somalis. Their ancestors were taken from their native lands by Arab slave traders in the 18^th and 19^th centuries and sold through Zanzibar slave market.   

Why are they here?

To have peace and freedom of speech.  Equal opportunities for the children.   They have nowhere else to go back.  The UN tried to resettle the Somali Bantu in their home countries: Mozambique, Malawi, and Tanzania, but those countries refused to resettle all the Somali Bantu.  Next, the UN asked the United States to resettle the Somali Bantus, and they accepted to resettle 12,000.

 Where did they live before?

The Somali Bantu were originally brought to Somalia as slaves in the 1800’s from Mozambique and Tanzania, and later lived in the Refugee camps in Kenya and Tanzania.  

What was life like for them?

 From the late 1970s until the early 1980s, the Somali government forcibly conscripted Bantu in to the military in the fight against Ethiopia that made thousands of Bantu men die. They were denied the access of Education and Government jobs. Bantu were farmers and were doing the country's labor jobs.   Civil war broke out in the wake of 1991 collapse of Siyaad Barre’s regime, and clan competition of power had disastrous results for the civilian population in general and the Somali Bantu people in particular. Somali Bantu’s were excluded from the traditional Somali clan protection network. Agricultural marketing networks also began to cease normal operations. As hunger among the Somali population increased, Bandits and militias were able to attack the Bantu with impunity. In the process of stealing food stocks, the bandits also robbed raped, murdered Bantu farmers and burned down the farms and houses. As the result of the war progressed, Control of the lower Juba River valley shifted among various warlords, each wreaking havoc on the Somali Bantu farming communities. In 1992 the Somali Bantu began to flee to the Refugee Camps in Kenya.  In the refugee camps, the Somali Bantus settled in the most distant locations (blocks approximately 600 people in each block). They were more vulnerable to bandit attacks than refugees living near the center of the camps. Women were rapped and men were tortured and killed. Somali Bantu were doing 95 percent of the labor jobs in the refugee camp.

How are the Somali Bantu adapting to life in Burlington?

They are adapting to the life in Burlington because most families know about the public transportation. Almost all the families have cars now. They are slowly adapting with the weather, culture and are learning English very fast.

What challenges do the families face here?

Language, culture and weather are the number one challenges the families face here in Burlington.  Finding jobs for most of the families are the second challenges.   

What jobs are the parents finding?

 Individuals who had some English skills did not have a problem finding employment. Those who had no English generally took a little longer to secure a job but were usually employed with in a month or two.   Almost all men and some women are currently employed in area such as manufacturing, shipping & receiving, the food industries; Environmental jobs (Custodians) and housekeeping. 

 How is the Community here helping new immigrants?

The community here is helping the new immigrants and refugees a lot. They are very friendly. English Language Training is provided through a variety of means. Most families have host family and volunteers. They are providing transportation to and from grocery stores and work with the families to get jobs. Volunteers also donate household items and winter clothes for the families.

 What strengths do the Somali Bantu have that help them adapt to this new culture?

Groups and the community have strengthened them to adapt in their new culture.  The Somali Bantu people are very hard working.  The Somali Bantu people have a goal of creating a very good life for their children and that goal will be attained by hard work and perseverance.