Somali Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Somalia lies on the Horn of Africa, with the longest coastline on the African mainland. Somalis have a long history of seafaring and trade, and some of the first Somalis in Britain were sailors. Many families came to Birmingham in the 1990s after civil war broke out, and others moved from the Netherlands, Scandinavia and elsewhere in Europe in the 2000s.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 19,076 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Somali; 10,812 people living in the city had been born in Somalia; and 7,374 residents gave Somali as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still.

Working for Birmingham

Somali families run shops, restaurants, cafes, travel agencies and money transfer businesses in several Birmingham neighbourhoods, and many work in transport, healthcare, social care and education. A new generation of Somali Brummies is graduating from the city's universities and working as doctors, pharmacists, engineers, teachers and youth workers.

Every community that has settled in Birmingham has helped to shape it. Newcomers have filled gaps in the workforce, opened shops and restaurants, and raised children who have gone on to become the city's doctors, teachers, engineers and entrepreneurs. The Somali community is part of that tradition of hard work and ambition, and of the city's own motto: Forward.

Culture and community life

Somalia is known as a nation of poets, and poetry and storytelling are central to Somali culture. Eid is the highlight of the year, and dishes such as rice with spiced goat, sambusa and canjeero pancakes are shared with family and friends. Somali community groups run homework clubs, sports teams and support for families.

For anyone who wants to learn more, the best introduction is the simplest one: say hello. Birmingham's communities are at their best when they meet, share food and learn from one another, and the Somali community is a warm part of that everyday exchange.