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Say-Walahi Diaspora Youth, Islamophobia and Anti-Black Racism: Implications for Education.

By A. A. Ilmi , published in 2025 in Urban Education.

This article highlights the ways in which Muslim Black/African youth situated in Toronto Canada have constructed a unique cultural identity that merges their Islamic values with their Somali heritage, centering on the term Say-Walahi (‘swear to God’). Over a period of 24 months, 32 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with self-identifying Muslim youth, aged 18–22 years. Analysis from the interviews highlights the ways in which these youth experience both Islamophobia and anti-Black racism. The author suggests that we need to rethink the educational system as a means of centering the identity of Black Muslim youths in the classroom and in urban education research.

This article highlights the ways in which Muslim Black/African youth situated in Toronto, Canada have constructed a unique cultural identity that merges their Islamic values with their Somali heritage, centering on the term Say-Walahi (‘swear to God’). Over a period of 24 months, 32 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with self-identifying Muslim youth, aged 18–22 years. Analysis from the interviews highlights the ways in which these youth experience both Islamophobia and anti-Black racism. The author suggests that we need to rethink the educational system as a means of centering the identity of Black Muslim youths in the classroom and in urban education research.

Say-Walahi Diaspora Youth, Islamophobia and Anti-Black Racism: Implications for Education

August 27, 2025 • YouthREX

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