Join us for the launch of ‘Celebrating Somali Heritage: Sounds of the Past, Voices of the Future’, a multi-day festival in Cardiff dedicated to celebrating Somalis’ deep and evolving heritage and cultural creativity.

The launch will kick-off with introductory remarks by local politicians and Steve Dimmick (Llenyddiaeth Cymru/Literature Wales), joined by festival organisers Ayan Mahamoud (Managing Director, Kayd Somali Arts &
Culture), Nasir Adam (Curator of Black History, Amgueddfa Cymru) and local programme manager Zainab Nur.

The evening’s keynote event will celebrate two award-winning British-Somali writers – journalist Aamna Mohdin and poet Samatar Elmi – and their recently published work: Aamna’s memoir Scattered: The Making and Unmaking of a Refugee, and Samatar’s debut poetry collection The Epic of Cader Idris (the title of which is inspired by a Welsh folktale). Aamna and Samatar will each share highlights of their personal journeys and creative inspirations, while also reflecting on the ways the British-Somali writers and artists are re-shaping Somali storytelling practices and British literary conversations. Aamna and Samatar will both read from their work and also answer questions from the audience. The conversation will be moderated by Claire Furlong (Llenyddiaeth Cymru/Literature Wales).

The evening will conclude with entertainment by Wanaagsan, a Cardiff-based Somali dance group led by Muna Abubakar and Ifraax Buraanbur, a local community artist, dance educator and buranbuur performer.