There’s growing concern in Somali society about how online displays of bravado might teeter dangerously close to hate speech, stirring up long-standing clan rivalries.
In Somalia, “The Big Tribal Game” isn’t just a pastime—it’s practically a cultural phenomenon. This so-called game draws in massive audiences without linking its participants to any form of clan violence.
Everywhere you look, thousands of phones light up with this spectacle, not just in Somalia, but across the globe. The typical participants? Enthusiastic young folks, naturally resembling today’s Gen Z influencers.
Remarkably, these digital duelists are set side-by-side, vying to rally their fans. Their efforts, colorful and engaging, elicit a storm of cheerful emojis and bought digital tributes.
Although the game’s stage might resemble TikTok’s trendy live battle feature, its roots dive deep into some of Somalia’s most enduring—and contentious—traditions.
With weapons like music, poetry, and witty quips, each player alternates extolling their clan’s virtues, occasionally casting shade on their opponent’s.
Victory comes to the contender who garners the most digital gifts, while the defeated must swallow the bitter pill of acknowledging their rival’s clan supremacy.
This live showdown, whether called “clan debates,” “clan wars,” or “The Big Tribal Game,” captivates tens of thousands not only in Somalia but also within the vast Somali diaspora.
It’s not just locals watching—the game’s engaging quarrels attract many international eyes, all claiming it’s merely lighthearted fun and a stage for Somali youth to revel in their heritage.
However, in a country riddled with memories of civil war, primarily marked by clan-based feuds from the 90s, such bare displays of grudges bring discomfort.
Many in Somali circles worry that fiery online exchanges may veer into hate speech, exacerbating clan-hostilities.
The diaspora’s keen interest merely underscores how the digital age turns age-old clan conflicts into generational differences, alienating once-shared experiences of conflict in Somalia.
Take Mukhtar Hassan Olad, for instance, who fled Mogadishu for Sweden in 2003, escaping a capital fractured by clan divisions.
In the aftermath of Somalia’s civil turmoil, the numbers alone are chilling: nearly half a million could be dead, with close to four million displaced.
Olad reflects that these TikTok skirmishes dredge up long-buried nightmares.
“When I escaped, it was the barrel of a gun sowing fear,” Olad shared with The Telegraph. “Now? It’s the smartphone’s turn.”
“Whenever I chance upon these debates online, ghosts of past traumas echo, memories that I—and countless peers—lived to tell.” He laments. “Instead of using TikTok for good—uplifting and teaching Somalis—they’d rather fuel a fire known all too well: clan hatred.”
For those grappling with Somalia’s bitter past, concerns loom that these virtual clashes might ignite tangible consequences in real life.
Abdirashid Osman Mohamed, uprooted by clan conflicts from Lower Shabelle, now resides in a refugee camp in Mogadishu’s Garasbaaley area.
Reflecting on his ordeal, he recalls hateful online slander targeting his clan.
“It starts with an insult. Next, they question our right to be here,” he explains.
“This soil? Born and raised here. Imagine someone miles away in Europe proclaiming my clan incompatible, then rousing others against us.”
Clans—cornerstones of Somali identity—still mold much of life’s fabric, wielding undeniable sway in politics.
Against this backdrop, the internet and mobile phones foster a burgeoning online culture, forging new ties with the diaspora. By 2022, per data from the World Bank, nearly three in ten Somalis embraced the digital world.
Dr. Jethro Norman from the Danish Institute for International Studies weighs in, saying, “The Big Tribal Game thrives on spectacle, with participants throwing clan-centric barbs in a public arena.” This setup fiery exchanges where clansman identities shine, often clawing at old grievances.
“Social media now catapults Somali clan conflicts onto the world stage,” Norman pointed out.
“However, regulations in countries like the U.S. and EU, designed to curb hate speech or incite violence, often grapple with the nuanced clan-focused discussions emerging from Somali contexts.”
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
