Culture And Religion
For all practical purposes, all Somalis are considered to be Muslims. Most belong to the Sunni branch, but there are reports of a few Shia Muslims. Sufism is also well established. Islam is set forth in the constitution as the official state religion.
Cuisine
Somalis cuisine varies by region. All food is served halal in that there is no pork, alcohol, or blood. Rice and Anjera are the main dishes. Spices are used to aromatize the rice. Xalwo or halva is a confection that is popular on special occasions.
Music
Most songs are pentatonic, in that they use five pitches per octave. While it sounds similar to the music of other countries in the region, it is ultimately distinct.
Architecture
The country has a rich and diverse architectural tradition. There are examples of a fusion between Occidental and Somalo-Islamic designs. In ancient times, Taallo, or pyramid structures were popular for burial. Hundreds of these are in the country today. Houses were constructed as they were in ancient Egypt with stone construction and courtyards with stone walls.