The Somali share a common language, adhere to a single faith, and share a cultural heritage that is an integral part of their nomadic lifestyle. To the Somali, this is actually a rough expression of hospitality. The Somali first appeared in the Horn of Africa around 1200 A.D., and began expanding westward and southward about 150 years later. They converted to Islam around 1550, under the influence of Arab traders that had settled along the cost of present-day Somalia. By 1650, they had moved into Ethiopia.
Somali society is based on the nuclear family, which consists of a husband, wife, and children.
A typical family owns a herd of sheep or goats and a few burden camels. Some may also own a herd of breeding and milking camels. The more camels a man has, the greater his prestige. The Somali consider themselves warriors. The men often leave the women in charge of the herds, so that they might train to become more effective fighters.