By: Farah Mohamed Ali (Blue)
In the heart of Minnesota and indeed in Mogadishu, London, Nairobi, Toronto, and every corner of the Somali diaspora, a new generation is rising. They are affectionately called the “Say Wallaahi” generation, and I believe they are the greatest Somali generation since the SYL, the Somali Youth League that carried our people to independence in the mid-20th century.
But unlike the SYL, whose revolution was political, this generation is leading a cultural and social revival. Their revolution is rooted in honesty, education, community and unity.
I was recently reminded of this in the most moving way. I attended the wedding of my nephew, Mohamed Dalmar Hashi, son of my dear friend Dalmar Hashi. What I witnessed that day left me in awe of this generation’s strength and spirit.
The wedding hall, built for 350, was overflowing; half filled with elders like myself and the other half with Mohamed’s peers. And it was his peers who made the moment unforgettable.
They came dressed in black Qamiises, while Mohamed stood out in pure white, glowing as the groom. It wasn’t just a matter of style . It was a symbol of love and respect, a way of saying: “On this day, our brother shines.”
Even more striking was how they pooled their resources to support his marriage. This, I thought, was nothing short of remarkable. I had seen such traditions practiced in other communities here in Minnesota, guests arriving at weddings with envelopes of $100 or more to help the couple start their life. But I had rarely seen it done among Somalis in the diaspora.
Yet, here, it was revived by the Say Wallaahi youth. They had unknowingly breathed life back into “Kaalo”, an old Somali countryside tradition where the community would come together to support the groom in starting a family. What was once almost forgotten had been reborn in the diaspora, led not by elders, but by the young.
And it doesn’t stop at weddings. This generation is redefining solidarity.
They stand with each other in business, in education, in faith, in moments of joy and in times of trial. They share their successes, amplify each other’s voices, and support Somali start-ups, artists, and entrepreneurs. They carry Somalia’s name with pride, pushing it into global conversations and demanding the respect and dignity their parents often struggled to find.
But what moves me most is their rejection of tribalism. For too long, Somalis were divided by clan – inside Somalia and in the diaspora. The Say Wallaahi generation has turned its back on that poison. They see themselves not as divided clans, but as one people. Their loyalty is not to tribe, but to truth, friendship, and Somali identity.
When they say “Wallaahi” – I swear to God, they mean it. Honesty is their currency. Integrity is their bond. And they are not only truthful; they are educated, ambitious, and determined.
They honor the sacrifices of their parents – the refugees and immigrants who worked long hours so their children could build a better life. Now, these children are thriving in universities, businesses, civic life, and politics. They are leaders already, not just leaders-in-waiting.
And they are deeply connected to their faith.
During Ramadan, I’ve seen them standing on street corners in Minnesota, handing out iftar meals to strangers. I’ve watched them dedicate themselves to Qur’an memorization, to Islamic knowledge, to prayer. Their spirituality gives their activism depth, their unity purpose, and their optimism resilience.
They are tech-savvy and worldly, yet fiercely proud of their heritage. They can navigate boardrooms, lecture halls, and social media platforms with the same ease with which they recite Somali poetry or organize a Qur’an competition. They are showing us every single day, that Somali excellence is global excellence.
This is why I say without hesitation: this is the greatest Somali generation since the SYL. They are the Say Wallaahi generation – united, honest, loving, fearless, and proud. As an elder, I look at them with hope and gratitude.
May Allah bless them, protect them, and keep them united. Because if they continue as they have begun, then the Somali story is only just beginning again, and this time, it will be written in light.
Farah Mohamed Ali is a Somali-American journalist based in Minnesota. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Somali Stream.