Tribes have differences in culture, religion and language. In Somalia all clans share one language, culture and religion. They're all part of one family tree. Somalia has an oral tradition, and our language is very poetic, very complex. Somalia is a matriarchal society.
Women are highly respected and very important in our culture.
Some of the clans are actually named after foremothers. Although the meetings of elders are male-dominated, the importance of women's input is not to be undermined. We are taught always to take care of your own. If something had happened to my parent when I was growing up, my clan would have taken care of me. Even during this terrible period of war, starvation and suffering, most families have taken in others displaced by the internal strife.