Except for the coastlands, small trade centers, and cultivated areas, much of Somalia is unsettled. Nomads make up about half the population. They live in small, collapsible shelters that have arched wooden braces covered with skins and grass mats. Their chief foods are milk and camel and goat meat. In addition, the nomads of Somalia eat rice and other grains.
Tea is a favorite drink among the country's people.
In much of Somalia, the people wear traditional clothing that consists of a piece of brightly colored cloth draped over the body like a toga. Many men wear a kiltlike garment called a lungi or a ma'owey. In the cities and towns, some people wear clothing similar to that worn in Europe and North America. The official language of Somalia is called Somali. Some Somalis also use Arabic, English, or Italian.