Historical Background of the Bantu and Breed Somalis

Every country has a unique historical background that shapes its culture and socioeconomic life. Somalia was among the top and best traders during ancient times. Also, Somalia gained independence from British and Italian colonialism in 1960. The leading British aim was to establish a place to carry on trade, and they were not interested in resources. However, each group shared their own culture and language, but a similar Islamic religion brought Somali interests and goals together, such as living harmoniously together. Despite the Breeds repaying good with good, the Breeds went ahead and denied the Bantu children the right to education in collaboration with the government. This article intensively discusses Somalia’s resettlement and transition from informal to formal education, colonization, its impact on the Somali community, discrimination, and introduction to education.

The history of the Bantu and Breed migrations to Somalia is one of the most fascinating stories. These migrations helped shape the cultural and linguistic diversity of Somalia, and played a significant role in the development of its society and economy. The purpose of their journey was to search for water for their crops and raise livestock. Farming and green pastures for their cattle were the primary reasons for their migration. Despite the fact that both groups live in the same country, they migrated from different regions on the continent. The original homeland of the Bantu is in the Central of Africa. For the Breed Somalis, their original homeland is in the Northern side of Africa. When they arrived in Somalia, the Bantu settled on the southern side, whereas the Breed people were on the northern side. So, each group brought with them their unique cultures, languages, and traditions, which have greatly influenced the Somali way of life. Today, Somalia is a diverse country with a rich cultural heritage that reflects the influence of these ancient migrations. The Bantu people are well known for their farming techniques and their ability to work with iron smelting technology. In addition to their farming and iron smelting, the Bantus also engaged in hunting and fishing to supplement their diet. They used traditional methods such as traps, spears, and nets to catch animals and fish in nearby rivers and forests. The Breed people, on the other hand, have always been nomadic camel herders who depend on their animals for a living. Despite their different ways of life, both groups have contributed to the cultural diversity of Somalia. Before the colonial era, the land was peaceful because each group lived in different regions and no group meddled in the business of the others. Still, each group defended its territory. In their subgroups, they governed themselves for many generations. Clearly, the Bantu and Breed people co-existed in the country, searching for food, water, and land to cultivate.

Many centuries later, some of the Breed people from the Ogaden region of Ethiopia began relocating to the south side in search of a better life. They used to show up at the Bantu houses as beggars. They looked weak, thin, starved, and tired as they had walked long distances without food. Thus, after the Breed members expressed their needs, the Bantu decided to offer assistance out of generosity. They provided them with food and shelter out of compassion for their ailing visitors. Due to their condition at the time, they gladly received a warm welcome. They were the first waves to migrate into southern Somalia and lived with the Bantus in peace. The Bantu and Breed began living together thereafter. The Bantus shared their resources with these groups and ensured that they were well fed. As a result, the Breed people settled in the Bantu region and adopted some aspects of the Bantu culture and language, which is called Mai-Mai. With the passage of time, they established their communities and managed to maintain some level of autonomy.

Meanwhile, before the British colonization of Somalia, people shared a complex and comprehensive educational background where the eldest used to educate young children through storytelling, guidance, and counseling. Scientific research shows that at around 700 A.D., the Arabs had intermingled with the Somali people, causing a significant influence in religion that caused almost all the Somali people to convert to the Muslim faith. Afterward, the Islamic religion had a considerable effect and opened Qurʾānic schools with the standard of colonial power, which was the only formal education in Somalia. As a result, many citizens joined the school to learn and become converts to Islam. The Breed and the Bantu lived in peace before colonization, respected each other, and protected themselves. However, things changed drastically since the Italians were not after their resources but their slave labor and enslaved people. 

In the early 1900s, Italy colonized a portion of Somaliland. They seized control of the two regions of the Bantu and Breed groups and merged them into one country. Bantu and Breed were doing forced manual labor at the time for the Colony. This colonization led to a period of unrest and rebellion in Somaliland, which eventually gained independence in 1960. The legacy of Italian colonization can still be seen in the country's infrastructure and culture. However, the Somali people did not know how to govern themselves, so they requested ten years of training in self-government from the colonizer. The colonizers accepted the offer and immediately began constructing schools in the Bantu and Breed regions. The Breeds who lived with the Bantus would warn the Bantu children not to attend school, while the Breed children themselves attended school. When the Bantu asked, "Why?" One of the Breeds' justifications was that the Christian religion taught in the schools would lead their children away from Islam. The Breed people acted as if they cared about the Bantus while deceiving and lying to them. Consequently, many Bantus never received a formal education. They remained illiterate while the Breeds educated their children. Later, when the training was complete, the colonizers transferred the government to Somalis. However, the chosen leader was from the Breed group because, unlike the Bantu people, the Breeds collaborated with the colonizer and were educated.

After the colonizers left the colony, the Breed people took control of the government. As a result, the Breed-led government desired nothing to do with the Bantus, as the government was in the hands of the Breed people. Thus, constant conflict arose between the two groups, as the Breeds frequently engaged in hostilities against the Bantus. Due to their desire for peace to prevail in the region, the Bantus allowed the Breed group to rule the country and began enrolling their children in government schools. This did not, however, improve the situation. On the contrary, the government discriminated against and deceived the Bantus on a regular basis. For example, when Bantu children graduated from high school, the government gave their diplomas to Breed students who had not graduated and then relocated them to other countries. Consequently, many Bantu children completed high school without a diploma. The government did so to destroy the Bantu's faith in the nation. The Bantu people will never have the chance to join the government in this manner.

In conclusion, before the colonial era, Somalia's territory was divided into two geographical regions, each inhabited by Bantu and Breed communities. During this time, the Somali Bantus ruled the southern region of Somalia, which flourished in peace. However, following the emergence of Italian colonial control over Somalia, they merged the two locations. As a result, some Breed people from northern Somalia began slowly migrating into the southern Bantu region, and the Bantus welcomed them without reservation. Upon Somalia's independence, however, the colonizer allowed the Breed people to control both regions. This resulted in disastrous outcomes as the Breed-led government instituted oppression, discrimination, and corrupt administration. Therefore, the harsh and hostile treatment of Somali Bantus is the result of a mistake made by their ancestors during the colonial period.