Why do people always think that east africans are mixed with arab/italian just because of their features?

ignorance. why do people think white people with curvy bodies, tan skin, curly hair, or full lips are mixed?

Interesting question..I happen to be 100% Somali and to be honest, people tend to say we have some Arab DNA in us as a way to explain some of our assets that a someone of West African descent wouldn't have, like for instance soft hair. People always ask me what I am, and they always have this shocked look on their face when I tell them I'm from East Africa. It kinda gets annoying sometimes. I can't even count how many times someone assumed I was mixed. But I guess its the fact that, Northeast African groups represent a unique and distinct racial bloc on the continent. Maybe we just have distinctive features? Or maybe its just because our country is closer to the Middle East then other African countries. The Arab world has had a significant impact on Somalia, seeing that today 99% of Somalia's population is STILL Muslim which is remarkable in my opinion. People claim we're mixed with Arab or Italian, solely because Egypt attempted to colonize Somalia at one point, and Italy took over some southern regions of Somalia. But then again, almost every African country has been colonized with the exception of Ethiopia. And their physical features haven't been impacted at all. These are the questions that haunt us,and there are countless holes to this topic. I should know these things...but truthfully I'm really no that crystal clear about my "exact" origins. To be honest don't stress it, Somalis are Somalis period. And we shouldn't be looked at as a mutant race. Hopefully this helped a little.

The same reason why a lot of people try to say that Southern Europeans are mixed with Arab or Black. I am of Southern European descent and it annoys me because i know it not to be true. There is natural variation within ALL races, it's just that some people seem too stupid to realize.

Some Somalians are mixed (with Arab)... I know someone who's Somali and Arab and funny thing is that she's just the same complexion as I am. But I agree.... most of the Somalians I see are dark skinned and look black to me.

There is nothing "special" about East Africans, I'm sorry. They look like Black folk, some are pretty and some are fugly, end of story. In my experience the only people who claim East Africans are "mixed" are East Africans themselves. Who gives a feck, people need to stop pulling the "mixed" card and be happy with themselves.

I've always thought that Eastern Africans were mixed with Arabs years and years back. I've always thought though that East Africans are their own ethnic group anyway and aren't their skulls caucasoid or something, thats probably why people think their mixed. Oh yeah, thats true but I don't think it necessarily means they have a caucasoid shaped skull, anyway I don't really take notice of that skull studying. true that, thats the great failure in all these skull shapes.

Too many people have fallen for the True Kneegro Myth. Realize the True Kneegro Myth was first contrived and distributed to separate Africans upon their heterogeneity. Unfortunately some Africans and those of African descent have fallen for this myth thus white people can say they are "african but not black" and even make a claim to some of ancient history and accomplishments East Africans have brought to the world. Some people need to realize that not all East Africans have the craniological feature and phenotypes that you have described. Phenotypes seen in Western Africa along with Central Africa can even be applied to Eastern African populations. Assuming some form of admixture is involved I highly doubt it had any effect on their facial features and skin tone. It's not that much. All over the continent, skin tone and facial features vary. They mean nothing, but "convergent evolution."

Sometimes it pains me to hear the talk of race and so forth. I deplore the degrading of any race yet sometimes applaud the open and honest discussion yet yearn for a day when no one questions, but accepts and celebrates diversity and similarities. Yet once in a while, even I fall into the same set... as I wonder about differences yet I stop short because I do not wish to seem ignorant in my lack of knowledge. In cases like this, I sit back...and read... so ... I'm sorry for posting this...I came to read and learn.

east africans are mixed, but not with people from europe or places like lebanon, syria, saudi arabia. they would have been mixing with people from places located nearby, like yemen. if you mix sudanese and saudi arabian, the child has a good chance of looking ethiopian or somali.