People of Somali Heritage

Somalia, with a population of over 10.8 million occupies the “horn” of Africa, a large land mass jutting into the Indian Ocean just south of the Arabian Peninsula, wrapping around Ethiopia and Kenya to the west. With a long coastline on the Indian Ocean, and also on the Gulf of Aden, which leads into the Red Sea and Suez Canal, Somalia has a long history of trade and interaction with other cultures. Most of the country is arid and sparsely settled by nomadic herders. The southern part has a tropical climate supporting agriculture and settled communities, including the large capital city, Mogadishu.