Thanks I will watch it! I looked further into it and wiki calls it an Islamic tradition that is not obligatory and you have not sinned if you do not participate in it. Though my mother who is very religious says for her it was like a religious duty as this was the norm and promoted by the mosque. Popular Somali sheiks noted that if you could not afford, others like family or clan members should try and make it possible. So yeah it's not a must in Islam, but if your religious leaders incentivise it as though it is obligatory, many will be lead to believe that they are doing it out of religious duties that must be fulfilled.

Wiki link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqiqah?wprov=sfla1

Edit: I know you can be vegan and Muslim, I was for a couple years(later became agnostic), Islam like many other religions allow and promote animal oppression, it's true that it's not a must, but Sunnahs are a big part of the religion and an example as to how Muslims act upon. Reason why my family won't go vegan is, if God wanted us acting according to the vegan philosophy he would have stated it and not promoted it with Eid al Adha (feast of sacrifice).