Three
areas are indicated, namely the Coastal region including Mogadishu, the
southern agricultural area, and the nomadic (pastoral) area. The majority
of Somalis are herders of camels, sheep, goats and to some extent cattle
and horses. Seasonally, the men take the camels deep into the bush, while
the women and children tend the sheep and goats closer to the watering
areas. The area populated by nomadic Somalis includes portions of Djibouti,
Ethiopia and Kenya. There is a settled agricultural area between the Shabelle
and Jubba rivers, where social organization is based more on place and
less on lineage. Along the coast, from north of Mogadishu (Muqdisho) to
the south, is a string of cities traditionally based on dhow trading with
Arabia, India and other areas. These cities have old communities of Arab
and Persian immigrants, as well as Somalis from all over the country and
beyond.
The three general cultural areas differ in dialect, with further significant subdivisions as well.