There are at least two artists with this name:

1) Ennik Somi Douma (… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists with this name:

1) Ennik Somi Douma (born March 9, 2001), known by her Korean name Jeon Somi (hangul: 전소미) or mononymously as Somi, is a Korean-Canadian singer based in South Korea, best known for finishing first in Mnet's survival reality program Produce 101 and debuting in girl group I.O.I. She is also a former member of the project girl groups Unnies and Girls Next Door. She is currently a solo artist under The Black Label, a subsidiary of YG. She debuted on June 13, 2019 with the digital single "Birthday".

2) Somi is a U.S. singer and songwriter of African extraction.

Born in Illinois to East African parents, Somi and her six siblings began to shuffle through the life of a diplomat scientist-cum-university professor’s family, thus exposing Somi to stories and music from all over the world. Having lived in Zambia, Kenya, and Tanzania, upon moving to New York City Somi was the featured vocalist in the African Globe Theatre production of Drums under the African Sky. This led to collaborations with Amel Larrieux, Tsidii Le Loka, Roy Hargrove, Lionel Loueke, and Lonnie Plaxico. She gained more attention after being featured in Source Magazine alongside Mos Def and other lyricists involved in a police anti-brutality project entitled Hip-Hop for Respect, and in 2005 she shared a stage with Cassandra Wilson at the Blue Note jazz club’s New Year’s Eve celebration. She has performed at Joe’s Pub, B.B.King’s, The Blue Note in New York City, the Atlanta Jazz Festival, and Chicago's famed South Shore Jazz Fest, among many other international venues.

Somi recently found time to complete a master’s degree at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has been profiled in numerous media including CNN International, BBC World, National Public Radio, TV 5 Monde, VH1, MTV, and BET. In 2006 she was invited by the International French Cultural Centre to tour fifteen African countries. Earlier in the year she helped the Rwanda Ministry of Culture and World Culture Open to organise the fifth Pan-African festival of Dance in Kigali, Rwanda, while consulting for the United Nations Development Programme’s International Conference on Creative Economies for Development.

Alien
Somi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm an African in New York

I'm an Alien, im a legal Alien
I'm an African in New York
I'm an Alien, im a legal Alien
I'm an African in New York

I drive my taxi down grand avenues
They always ask me where i'm from
Is it that sad place that's in the news?
And is that the reason why i've come?
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an African in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an African in New York

Modesty, propriety
I'm not the only one
Gentleness, sobriety
Shines brighter than the sun

"Fais comme chez toi sans oublier..."
they said
Even though you're here to stay
It takes a man to suffer ignorance
and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say

I'm an African

I'm an African
I'm an African

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Somi's song Alien are a reflection of the experience of being an immigrant in a foreign land. The opening lines "I don't drink coffee, I take tea," suggest a cultural difference that is mirrored throughout the song. The singer, an African in New York, is proud of her roots and her heritage, but is also acutely aware of her status as a legal alien.

The lines "See me walking down One Sixteen, dried fish and cowry tableside," suggest the singer's pride in her culture and its traditions. However, she is also conscious of the stereotypes that are often associated with her country and its people. When she is asked about where she is from, she is often associated with the tragic news that emerges from the continent.

The song's chorus, "I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien, I'm an African in New York," is an evocative reflection of the challenges and opportunities that come with being an immigrant. The singer is proud of who she is, but is also aware of the challenges of adapting to a new culture. Throughout the song, the singer urges the listener to be proud of who they are, to stand up for what they believe in, and to be true to themselves.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't drink coffee, I take tea my dear
I prefer tea over coffee

Some extra rice, please, on the side
Can I have additional rice with my meal?

And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
My accent reveals that I'm not from here

I'm an African in New York
I'm a person of African descent in New York

See me walking down One Sixteen
Watching me stroll down 116th street

Dried fish and cowry tableside
Fish and shells are on the table

There's pride and beauty in my walk
I exude pride and confidence in the way that I walk

I'm an Alien, I'm a legal Alien
Although I'm legally present, I feel like an outsider

I drive my taxi down grand avenues
I have a job driving a taxi around the city

They always ask me where I'm from
People often inquire about my nationality

Is it that sad place that's in the news?
Is it from that place which is frequently in the news for sad reasons?

And is that the reason why I've come?
Did I come here for that reason as well?

Modesty, propriety, I'm not the only one
I'm not the only one who embodies these qualities of modesty and propriety

Gentleness, sobriety shines brighter than the sun
Being gentle and sober is far more important than physical things like the sun

"Fais comme chez toi sans oublier..." they said
As they said, feel at home, but do not forget...

Even though you're here to stay
You may be here permanently, but there are still things to remember and respect

It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Only a truly mature person can endure ignorance and remain kind

Be yourself no matter what they say
Always be true to yourself even when others try to change you

I'm an African
I'm a member of the African people

I'm an African
I identify myself as an African

I'm an African
Being African is a prominent aspect of my identity

Writer(s): Gordon Sumner, Laura Kabasomi Kakoma

Contributed by Ryan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@milenasimic3190

5y↑16

I don't drink coffee i take tea my dear
Some extra rice, please, on the side
And you can hear it
in my accent when i talk
I'm an African in New York
See me walking down One Sixteen
Dried fish and cowry tableside
There's pride and beauty in my walk
I'm an African in New York

I'm an Alien, im a legal Alien
I'm an African in New York
I'm an Alien, im a legal Alien
I'm an African in New York

I drive my taxi down grand avenues
They always ask me where i'm from
Is it that sad place that's in the news?
And is that the reason why i've come?
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an African in New York
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien
I'm an African in New York

Modesty, propriety
I'm not the only one
Gentleness, sobriety
Shines brighter than the sun

"Fais comme chez toi sans oublier..."
they said
Even though you're here to stay
It takes a man to suffer ignorance
and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say

I'm an African
I'm an African
I'm an African

All comments from YouTube:

@gmnnkutha2708

3y↑4

Black, female....... STING........what a beautiful song.
I love it..... ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

@glenlundin9623

5y↑2

Just heard this on Public Radio; I am enthralled. After enjoying Anita Baker, & Sade in live concerts, I feel Somi is another beautiful & stunning vocal artist. 🌺

@ladauphine2837

50w

Powerful words. I can relate to that too.
" Fais comme chez toi sans oublier...que tu n'es pas chez toi " I don't like this saying. The world belongs to everyone, and we should be able to live wherever we want. But it is not the case, is it 😢?
Nice and melow song. My cup of tea.
I just discovered Somi on " Grand performances " watching PBS and I am so pleased 😊❤

@SigurTibbs

6y↑10

As an African who moved to New York this song is my JAM.

@raymondmaboya592

4y↑4

I've been playing this song on repeat for the last hour,,, so mellow, such beauty is quite rare,,, love it to bits

@utm0st

4y↑1

Goosebump inducing music. "It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile"

@byoutifulmusic

7y↑23

... I'm an African in New York.. poignant line.. for me anyways, and I was born here... African.. by way of Jamaica and Guyana... :) but somewhere on the outside.. always. Music is fiyah, Somi... and your voice the sweet cream and cherry and syrup on top.