A Deep Dive into Colonialism in Somalia
By Caitlyn Fortner
January 2024
World Novel
Index
7.
1.
The Colonial City
Where is Somalia
8.
2.
Racism
Coloniasm
9.
3.
Italian Citzenship
Mohammed
10.
4.
End of Italian Rule
Italian Colonialism
11.
5.
Bibliography
Mogadishu
6.
Somalian Living
Where is Somalia
Somalia
Located in South Africa
What is Colonialism
To first understand how Italy colonized Somalia we need to first understand what colonization is. The book "Political Theory, Colonialism versus Imperialism" by author Barbra Arneil describes colonialism as "productive form of power that seeks to segregate and “improve” “backward” people(s) from within and “improve” “waste” lands," (Arneil, 1) This means that people who are not acclimated to the normalcy of that country that's coming in, need to be taught and civilized to standards of other countries. These "improvements" can be looked at as putting schools for education, farming land how the colonizers do in their homeland, and improving the native people of that land. This is of course a very broad definition of colonialism, and it can be broken down to even more in its meaning.
Mohammed Abdullah Hassany 1856-1920
Oh, hear me, hear me, fellow Somalis or refusing to hear, say comfortingly to yourselves: “Let the madman rave”. Here, my will to the prudent man, let the fool ignore it: there never was a gain in treating with the whites; you soften up to the unbelieving white man and he is bound to deceive you, one day you will to regret the money he is pouring over you. First, he’ll disarm you, he’ll turn you into womenfolk, next, he’ll commit you to his prison wards, then, he’ll say to you under duress: “Trade in the land for a little mammon”. Last, he’ll place a heavy load, like a pack donkey’s, on your wretched backs; since in my flight I’ve gone beyond the plains of Iimey and the hills of Harar, what good will your gloating do you, your gloating over my predicament? Behold, tomorrow he’ll descend over you with his colonizing tools.
Italian colonialism
"Mancini engaged himself in assuming that the principle of international law under which territories can be acquired only according to the will of the local population did not apply to the territories inhabited by almost wild and semi-barbarous tribes and colonialized by civilized nations: (Carpenelli, 25)
In 1882 Italy colonized there first place in Africa Assab Bay on the Red Sea. After coming to an agreement with Great Britain. Three years later in 1890, they colonized Somalia. This would become Italy's first official Colony. Italy sought to colonize overseas because of poverty and unemployment back in Italy. This caused many Italians to go abroad to other countries to seek financial security, for themselves and their children When we talk about Italian Colonialism we need to mention Pasquale Stanislao Mancini, he was a well-known scholar, and when Italy unified as a country he was selected to be on the Italian Parliament, and he was also appointed minister of foreign affairs. Because of this Mancini was one of the people in charge of promoting the Italian Colonist Policy. Mancini thought of colonizing like this,
Pasquale Stanislao Mancini 1817-1888
"Minister Mancini reassured the assembly that the Italian colonizers' task was to serve as their "educators." This would be a tremendous consequence. (Camilleri, 32)
Mogadishu
Before Italy even colonized Somalia their capital city Mogadishu thrived. It was nowhere close to being a barbaric civilization. When the Italians arrived Mogadishu had been involved in trade routes in regionally and in the Indian Ocean. Plus some Archeologists belive that they have oral traditions going back to the 12th century. Many countries like China, Arab, and even European travelers and merchants have written about Mogadishu. Mogadishu even had its one city layout with houses called Arish. These houses of course were nothing special. They were made out of branches tied together with mud and dung to seal it in, usually with a thatched or metal roof.
Somalian Living
Italian sought to change the city of Mogadishu, and move the somalians out. They decided that the Arish houses were not only just an eye sore, but also filthy, unhegenic, and irrational. So they decided to tear these native houses down. These houses also did not fit the new design of Mogadishu. The Italians wanted Mogadishu to be a clean place, but this wouldn't work with the houses of the natives, and the natives themselves.
So the colonizers decided to build two new native quarters on the outskirts of the city. One was north of the Shangaani walls, and west of Xamarwayne. The first time a man named Stefanini visited he claimed this to be insufficient. The second time he visited "he found it was cleared for sanitation reasons, due to an epidemic of the bubonic plague." (Mohamed, 7)
The Colonial City
As the colonization progressed further there started to be a lot more Iltalian-styled buildings and roads popping up, and of course, all named after famous Italians. They changed the city by breaking it up and radically altering the former landscape of the old city. They carved it open for a more European-style look to it. Calling Mogadishu the Italian imperial outpost. They decided to build a Catherdral as well called the Mogadishu Catherdral, which "was a symbolic demonstration of colonial power imagined by De Vecchi: it served as an emblem of this new era in which Italy's legitimate and effective power in Somalia Italiana could no longer be questioned." (Mohamed, 9) They also built political colonial offices on the main roads, that intersected the city. So people would have to pass by them on the way between moieties. After these were built they were demolishing parts of the city, and walls that had existed, even going as far as destroying city gates. This made a power shift between the natives and the colonizers. "It symbolized, in essence, a loss of power and autonomy." (Mohamed, 7)
Racism and Slavery in the Horn of Africa
some who resisted the Italians were also sent to Danane to the concentration camp that had been built. This was pretty close to Mogadishu. It's reported that 36 tons of mustard gas had been brought into Somalia. Mainly for the war against Ethiopia, but that year Danane concentration camp had been built, and the gas was used there. This concentration camp as well as forced labor was still up and running until March 8th, 1943. Somalians were also used as slaves. Even though slavery was outlawed in 1908. The use of them was looked passed a lot. "In fact, the Benadir officials’ practice of purchasing female slaves or coercing local women to be their mistresses met minimal construction when the Italian government asserted its direct administration of Somalia" (Bufalini, 218)
In Somalia, racial segregation started to occur between the colonizers and the natives. Somalians were not allowed on the nice parts of the beaches. If a Somali was found on these parts of the beaches they would be beaten up and kicked out. They did not share meeting places and had no contact with each other, and no social occasions with the other. They were subject to forced labor to build, as well as aggressive behaviors.
Citizenship
As time progressed more Somalians wanted to become Italian citizens so they would have more rights, and didn't have to be subjugated to the hardships of the Italians. The process of going from a member of the colony to a citizen is a very hard process. For mixed children, it was a bit easier as long as they could prove they had an Italian father. This was usually based on facial features. "However, throughout the period of Italian colonial rule granting Italian citizenship to colonial subjects was considered an inappropriate practice" (Camilleri, 40)
End Of Italian Rule
Italians had colonized Somalia in 1890 and ended in 1941. The Italian of East Africa which included, Somalia, Eritrea, and Ethiopia was taken over by none other than British Troops. These troops removed Italians entirely from east Africa.
10. Bibliography
- Colonialism Versus Imperalism, Politcal Theory
Arneil, B. (2023). Colonialism versus Imperialism. Political Theory, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00905917231193107
Bibliographic references
- Colonial Amnesia and the Material Remains of Italian Colonialism in Mogadishu
Iman Mohamed (18 June 2023): Colonial Amnesia and the material remains of Italian Colonialism in Mogadishu, interventions https://doi.org/10.1080/1369801x.2023.2222107
- Colonial Subjects and Others: Racism and Inequality during Italian Rule in the Horn of Africa
Camilleri, N. (2020). Colonial Subjects and Others: Racism and Inequality during Italian Rule in the Horn of Africa. Northeast African Studies, 20(1–2), 27–57. https://doi.org/10.14321/nortafristud.20.1-2.0027
- Political and legal aspects of Italian colonialism in Somalia
Carpanelli, E., & Scovazzi, T. (2020). Political and legal aspects of Italian colonialism in Somalia. G. Giappichelli editore.
- Italian Colonialism in Somalia: issues of reparation for the crimes committed
Bufalini, A.. (2017). Italian Colonialism in Somalia: issues of reparation for the crimes committed. Sequência (florianópolis), (76), 11–36. https://doi.org/10.5007/2177-7055.2017v38n76p11
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Transcript
A Deep Dive into Colonialism in Somalia
By Caitlyn Fortner
January 2024
World Novel
Index
7.
1.
The Colonial City
Where is Somalia
8.
2.
Racism
Coloniasm
9.
3.
Italian Citzenship
Mohammed
10.
4.
End of Italian Rule
Italian Colonialism
11.
5.
Bibliography
Mogadishu
6.
Somalian Living
Where is Somalia
Somalia
Located in South Africa
What is Colonialism
To first understand how Italy colonized Somalia we need to first understand what colonization is. The book "Political Theory, Colonialism versus Imperialism" by author Barbra Arneil describes colonialism as "productive form of power that seeks to segregate and “improve” “backward” people(s) from within and “improve” “waste” lands," (Arneil, 1) This means that people who are not acclimated to the normalcy of that country that's coming in, need to be taught and civilized to standards of other countries. These "improvements" can be looked at as putting schools for education, farming land how the colonizers do in their homeland, and improving the native people of that land. This is of course a very broad definition of colonialism, and it can be broken down to even more in its meaning.
Mohammed Abdullah Hassany 1856-1920
Oh, hear me, hear me, fellow Somalis or refusing to hear, say comfortingly to yourselves: “Let the madman rave”. Here, my will to the prudent man, let the fool ignore it: there never was a gain in treating with the whites; you soften up to the unbelieving white man and he is bound to deceive you, one day you will to regret the money he is pouring over you. First, he’ll disarm you, he’ll turn you into womenfolk, next, he’ll commit you to his prison wards, then, he’ll say to you under duress: “Trade in the land for a little mammon”. Last, he’ll place a heavy load, like a pack donkey’s, on your wretched backs; since in my flight I’ve gone beyond the plains of Iimey and the hills of Harar, what good will your gloating do you, your gloating over my predicament? Behold, tomorrow he’ll descend over you with his colonizing tools.
Italian colonialism
"Mancini engaged himself in assuming that the principle of international law under which territories can be acquired only according to the will of the local population did not apply to the territories inhabited by almost wild and semi-barbarous tribes and colonialized by civilized nations: (Carpenelli, 25)
In 1882 Italy colonized there first place in Africa Assab Bay on the Red Sea. After coming to an agreement with Great Britain. Three years later in 1890, they colonized Somalia. This would become Italy's first official Colony. Italy sought to colonize overseas because of poverty and unemployment back in Italy. This caused many Italians to go abroad to other countries to seek financial security, for themselves and their children When we talk about Italian Colonialism we need to mention Pasquale Stanislao Mancini, he was a well-known scholar, and when Italy unified as a country he was selected to be on the Italian Parliament, and he was also appointed minister of foreign affairs. Because of this Mancini was one of the people in charge of promoting the Italian Colonist Policy. Mancini thought of colonizing like this,
Pasquale Stanislao Mancini 1817-1888
"Minister Mancini reassured the assembly that the Italian colonizers' task was to serve as their "educators." This would be a tremendous consequence. (Camilleri, 32)
Mogadishu
Before Italy even colonized Somalia their capital city Mogadishu thrived. It was nowhere close to being a barbaric civilization. When the Italians arrived Mogadishu had been involved in trade routes in regionally and in the Indian Ocean. Plus some Archeologists belive that they have oral traditions going back to the 12th century. Many countries like China, Arab, and even European travelers and merchants have written about Mogadishu. Mogadishu even had its one city layout with houses called Arish. These houses of course were nothing special. They were made out of branches tied together with mud and dung to seal it in, usually with a thatched or metal roof.
Somalian Living
Italian sought to change the city of Mogadishu, and move the somalians out. They decided that the Arish houses were not only just an eye sore, but also filthy, unhegenic, and irrational. So they decided to tear these native houses down. These houses also did not fit the new design of Mogadishu. The Italians wanted Mogadishu to be a clean place, but this wouldn't work with the houses of the natives, and the natives themselves.
So the colonizers decided to build two new native quarters on the outskirts of the city. One was north of the Shangaani walls, and west of Xamarwayne. The first time a man named Stefanini visited he claimed this to be insufficient. The second time he visited "he found it was cleared for sanitation reasons, due to an epidemic of the bubonic plague." (Mohamed, 7)
The Colonial City
As the colonization progressed further there started to be a lot more Iltalian-styled buildings and roads popping up, and of course, all named after famous Italians. They changed the city by breaking it up and radically altering the former landscape of the old city. They carved it open for a more European-style look to it. Calling Mogadishu the Italian imperial outpost. They decided to build a Catherdral as well called the Mogadishu Catherdral, which "was a symbolic demonstration of colonial power imagined by De Vecchi: it served as an emblem of this new era in which Italy's legitimate and effective power in Somalia Italiana could no longer be questioned." (Mohamed, 9) They also built political colonial offices on the main roads, that intersected the city. So people would have to pass by them on the way between moieties. After these were built they were demolishing parts of the city, and walls that had existed, even going as far as destroying city gates. This made a power shift between the natives and the colonizers. "It symbolized, in essence, a loss of power and autonomy." (Mohamed, 7)
Racism and Slavery in the Horn of Africa
some who resisted the Italians were also sent to Danane to the concentration camp that had been built. This was pretty close to Mogadishu. It's reported that 36 tons of mustard gas had been brought into Somalia. Mainly for the war against Ethiopia, but that year Danane concentration camp had been built, and the gas was used there. This concentration camp as well as forced labor was still up and running until March 8th, 1943. Somalians were also used as slaves. Even though slavery was outlawed in 1908. The use of them was looked passed a lot. "In fact, the Benadir officials’ practice of purchasing female slaves or coercing local women to be their mistresses met minimal construction when the Italian government asserted its direct administration of Somalia" (Bufalini, 218)
In Somalia, racial segregation started to occur between the colonizers and the natives. Somalians were not allowed on the nice parts of the beaches. If a Somali was found on these parts of the beaches they would be beaten up and kicked out. They did not share meeting places and had no contact with each other, and no social occasions with the other. They were subject to forced labor to build, as well as aggressive behaviors.
Citizenship
As time progressed more Somalians wanted to become Italian citizens so they would have more rights, and didn't have to be subjugated to the hardships of the Italians. The process of going from a member of the colony to a citizen is a very hard process. For mixed children, it was a bit easier as long as they could prove they had an Italian father. This was usually based on facial features. "However, throughout the period of Italian colonial rule granting Italian citizenship to colonial subjects was considered an inappropriate practice" (Camilleri, 40)
End Of Italian Rule
Italians had colonized Somalia in 1890 and ended in 1941. The Italian of East Africa which included, Somalia, Eritrea, and Ethiopia was taken over by none other than British Troops. These troops removed Italians entirely from east Africa.
10. Bibliography
Arneil, B. (2023). Colonialism versus Imperialism. Political Theory, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00905917231193107
Bibliographic references
Iman Mohamed (18 June 2023): Colonial Amnesia and the material remains of Italian Colonialism in Mogadishu, interventions https://doi.org/10.1080/1369801x.2023.2222107
Camilleri, N. (2020). Colonial Subjects and Others: Racism and Inequality during Italian Rule in the Horn of Africa. Northeast African Studies, 20(1–2), 27–57. https://doi.org/10.14321/nortafristud.20.1-2.0027
Carpanelli, E., & Scovazzi, T. (2020). Political and legal aspects of Italian colonialism in Somalia. G. Giappichelli editore.
Bufalini, A.. (2017). Italian Colonialism in Somalia: issues of reparation for the crimes committed. Sequência (florianópolis), (76), 11–36. https://doi.org/10.5007/2177-7055.2017v38n76p11