Somali Week festival celebrates the community while putting the climate crisis front and centre
The arts festival runs from 18-27 October in London and includes talks, films, music and theatre from the Somali region and diaspora
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The Somali Week festival is back this October as part of Black History Month, putting climate change and its effects on the community at the forefront. Organised by Kayd Somali Arts and Culture, it’s the largest Somali festival outside the Horn of Africa, and this year musicians, creatives and academics from the Somali region and wider diaspora will come together to explore the theme of Creative Worlds and the Environment.
“Climate change has impacted the Horn of Africa severely, especially in the Somali region,” says Ayan Mahamoud, founder of Kayd Somali Arts and Culture. “People tend to think about how climate change impacts the environment, but through the festival, we’re showing how it has impacted the lifestyle and heritage of the region.”
Starting 16 years ago as a small series of events at Oxford House, an arts centre in east London, Somali Week is now a 10-day festival across the capital. The varied programme, which runs from 18 to 27 October, includes events in both Somali and English, from theatre and music, to film screenings and literary discussions. This year, Mahamoud and her team are expecting up to 5,000 attendees across venues such as the Southbank Centre, Queen Mary University of London and the British Library.
“One of our aims is to open up these institutions for our communities,” says Mahamoud. “We’re trying to ensure the Somali community has access to different venues across London.”
Here are some of Hyphen’s picks from this year’s lineup:
Creative worlds and the environment with Dr Sada Mire
The launch event for this year’s festival will begin with a talk by housing minister Rushanara Ali, followed by a conversation with Dr Sada Mire on the impact of climate change on cultural heritage. Dr Mire is a Swedish-Somali archaeologist, art historian and presenter, currently an associate professor of heritage studies at University College London. The evening will close with a live performance by the Dur-Dur Band, one of the best-known acts of the 1980s Mogadishu funk and disco scene.
This year’s festival will host the UK release of the film Amina by Swedish-Somali director Ahmed Abdullahi. A talented mixed martial arts fighter in Sweden, Amina faces the challenge of raising her daughter while preparing for the world MMA championships. The film was selected for the Marrakech International Film festival and released in Swedish cinemas in December 2023. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Abdullahi.
Community Champions: Celebrating Somali community heroes
This panel discussion celebrates the contributions and achievements of four Somali community leaders. Hawa Kodah, a deaf awareness advocate, will discuss the challenges affecting her community; while Mushtaaq Abdi, a health advocate, will share her charitable efforts in the health sector in Somaliland. Also on the panel are climate activist Zamzam Ibrahim, head of strategy for Somalis for Sustainability and co-founder of Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK); and Hashim Duale, co-founder of Daryeel Autism, an organisation breaking the stigma surrounding the condition, particularly within the Somali community.
Film screening and discussion: Untold Stories, Qaraami and traditional dance
Directed and produced by Kasim Wise, Untold Stories is a documentary feature telling the story of the first Somali migrants to settle in Tower Hamlets, 100 years ago. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Wise and participants in the film, delving deeper into the Somali diaspora’s history. The event will also feature musical performances from Geelo, Kaltuun Bacado, Qoraan, Nimco Yasin and Saalax.
Salutation Road book launch and Comedy Night
This event will celebrate the launch of Salutation Road by Salma Ibrahim, who will discuss her experiences as a debut author and the inspiration behind her book. Salutation Road, set to be published in February 2025, has been described as “the untold story of the everyday struggle of immigration, love and letting go of a past that never really existed”. The book launch will be followed by performances from comedians including Ola Labib, Diesel, Fathiya Saleh, Prince Abdi and Bamph.
Honouring Maandeeq’s lifetime achievements
Mahamoud’s personal pick, this event will celebrate the lifetime achievements of retired Somali singer Faadumo Cabdillahi, more commonly known as Maandeeq, who was part of the first generation of modern Somali musicians. Her career began in the 1960s in theatre, and she is considered one of the greatest Somali female artists. To honour her legacy, several Somali musicians, artists and community leaders will join the stage, and the event will conclude with a medley of her songs performed by UK-based artist, Nimco Dagan.
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