One of Britain’s oldest Muslim communities, the Somali presence dates back to the 19th-century ‘lascar’ sailors who settled in ports like Cardiff and Liverpool, long before the refugees of the 1990s arrived.
The Somali community in Britain is one of the oldest and most established African diaspora groups in the United Kingdom. While often associated in the public imagination with the refugees who fled the Somali Civil War in the 1990s, the roots of Somali Britain actually reach back into the mid-19th century, forged in the engine rooms of the British Empire’s merchant fleet.
The Seafarers of the Empire
The story begins with the ‘lascars’—merchant sailors recruited from British colonies and protectorates. Following the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the British established a major coaling station at Aden. This strategic port became a recruitment hub for Somalis from the British Somaliland protectorate. These men, known for their resilience and navigational skills, became essential to the Royal Navy and merchant vessels.
By the 1880s, Somali sailors had begun to settle in British port cities, most notably Cardiff, Liverpool, South Shields, and London’s East End. In Cardiff, they formed the heart of the multicultural district known as Tiger Bay (Butetown). These early settlers were often transient, but many married local women and established permanent homes, creating the first continuous Somali presence in Britain.
Tiger Bay and the Interwar Years
During the early 20th century, Somali communities in Cardiff and South Shields became centers of entrepreneurship. They established boarding houses, cafes, and mosques, providing essential infrastructure for visiting sailors. The Somali community was distinct for its strong religious identity and its ability to navigate both British society and the maritime networks of the Indian Ocean.
However, these communities also faced significant challenges. After the First World War, an economic downturn led to racial tensions. In 1919, Cardiff and other ports saw violent ‘race riots’ as white sailors competed for dwindling jobs. Despite this hostility, the Somali community persisted, supported by strong internal networks and community organisations like the Somali Seamen’s Association.
The Post-1991 Migration
The nature of the community changed dramatically in the late 1980s and early 1990s. As the Somali state collapsed into civil war, thousands of Somalis sought asylum in the UK. Unlike the earlier maritime settlers, these new arrivals came from all parts of Somalia and included many families, professionals, and students.
This wave settled not just in the old ports, but in inland cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leicester. Areas such as Tower Hamlets and Camden in London became new hubs of Somali life. The community faced the double challenge of recovering from the trauma of war while navigating the complexities of the British asylum system and urban poverty.
Cultural and Economic Contributions
Today, the Somali-British community is a vibrant part of the UK’s multicultural fabric. In the arts, figures like the poet Warsan Shire and the novelist Nadifa Mohamed (author of *The Fortune Men*, which dramatises the true story of a Somali sailor in Cardiff) have gained international acclaim. In sport, Sir Mo Farah, who arrived in London as a child from Djibouti, became one of Britain’s greatest Olympians.
Somali-Britons have also made significant strides in local politics and academia. In 2018, Magid Magid became the first Somali-born Lord Mayor of Sheffield, bringing a new energy to municipal leadership. The community remains deeply connected to the Horn of Africa through remittances and political engagement, while firmly rooting its future in British soil.
Key Sources and Further Reading
- Mohamed, N. (2021): *The Fortune Men*, Viking.
- Kahin, M. H. (1997): *Somali Community in the UK: What Works?*, Africa Education Trust.
- Little, K. (1948): *Negroes in Britain: A Study of Racial Relations in English Society*, Routledge.
- Olusoga, D. (2016): *Black and British: A Forgotten History*, Macmillan.
