The Somali Museum of Minnesota (also known as the Somali Artifact and Cultural Museum) is a cultural institution in
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
,
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
, United States. The
Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Minneapolis–Saint Paul is a metropolitan area in the Upper Midwestern United States centered around the confluence of the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix rivers in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is commonly known as the Twin Cities ...
metro area is home to the largest
Somali immigrant and refugee population in the United States, after civil war in
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
prompted large-scale displacement of the Somali people. The Somali Museum of Minnesota presents a collection of more than 1000 traditional
nomadic
A nomad is a member of a community without fixed habitation who regularly moves to and from the same areas. Such groups include hunter-gatherers, pastoral nomads (owning livestock), tinkers and trader nomads. In the twentieth century, the popu ...
artifacts from Somalia, as well as educational programming about
Somali culture
The culture of Somalia is an amalgamation of traditions in that were developed independently since the Proto-Somali era. The hypernym of the term ''Somali'' from a geopolitical sense is ''Horner'' and from an ethnic sense, it is '' Cushite''.
Ove ...
, arts events, and cross-cultural activities. It may now be the only museum in the world dedicated to preserving Somali culture and traditions.
Mission and history
The Somali Museum of Minnesota was incorporated as the Somali Artifact and Cultural Museum in December 2011. Prior to that date, the museum's director Osman Ali carried out cultural preservation activities independently, by collecting artifacts and presenting lectures about Somali culture around Minneapolis and Saint Paul. In 2013, the Somali Museum opened a public gallery on
Lake Street, which is the museum's present location. In 2014, the Museum co-presented a pop-up gallery in downtown Minneapolis as part of the Made Here project of Hennepin Theatre Trust In 2015, the Museum celebrated its gallery's 2nd Anniversary with a community celebration featuring Somali performers from around the world, including Fadumo Nakruuma,
Hodan Nalayeh
Hodan Nalayeh ( so, Hodan Naaleeye; ar, هودان نلايا; 1976 – July 12, 2019) was a Somali-Canadian media executive, marketing consultant, social activist and entrepreneur. She was president of the Cultural Integration Agency and vice ...
, and Nasteexo Indho. Tickets for this event were sold out. In 2018, the Somali Museum collaborated with the
Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) is a nonprofit educational and cultural institution dedicated to preserving the history of the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was founded by the territorial legislature in 1849, almost a decade before statehoo ...
to produce the “Somalis + Minnesota” exhibit. It was named one of the best exhibitions of Winter 2019 in the United States by
USA Today
''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...
. Later that year, the Somali Museum opened its very own Somali Museum gift shop with the help of multiple artists, authors, and Somali fashion designers. In late 2019, the Somali Museum worked on the publishing of the Museum’s first-ever book, Baro Agabkaaga. The book comprises a detailed description of the many artifacts carried in the museum.
The Somali Museum offers programs classes in cultural education through weaving, dance and poetry, as well as touring exhibitions and outreach events in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area. The Somali Museum was voted Minnesota's "Best Mini-Museum" by ''Mpls.St.Paul Magazine'' in 2015. “Somali Museum of Minnesota Day” was
awarded by Governor
Mark Dayton
Mark Brandt Dayton (born January 26, 1947) is an American politician who served as the 40th governor of Minnesota from 2011 to 2019. He was a United States Senator for Minnesota from 2001 to 2007, and the Minnesota State Auditor from 1991 to 1 ...
on October 1, 2016.
Exhibits
The Somali Museum displays a collection of artifacts from nomadic society in Somalia, as well as contemporary paintings created by artists in Somalia and the diaspora. Its galleries feature exhibits of milk and water vessels, weaving, artifacts associated with women's work and care for camels, and religious items. The museum also displays two traditional houses: one nomadic home (''aqal Soomaali'' in the
Somali language
Somali (Latin script: ; Wadaad writing, Wadaad: ; Osmanya: 𐒖𐒍 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘 ) is an Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language belonging to the Cushitic languages, Cushitic branch. It is spoken as a mother tongue by Somalis in ...
) and one village home (called a ''mudul''). The ''aqal Soomaali'' was built first on Lake Street in Minneapolis, then installed at the Somali Museum in July 2014
Leadership
The Somali Museum's executive director is Osman Mohamed Ali. Ali is an entrepreneur and community figure, and co-owns the Sanaag Restaurant in Minneapolis. Ali began his career as a water resources manager in
Dubai
Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...
,
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...
, and moved to the United States in 1995. He founded and managed Ali's Driving School and Ali's Catering, both businesses serving the Somali community, and worked as a community organizer for the Neighborhood Development Center. According to interviews, in 2009 Ali traveled to Somalia to visit an ailing relative and was saddened by young Somalis' lack of knowledge about traditional Somali culture. When he also discovered that the only cultural museum in Somalia was destroyed, he started collecting artifacts to start his own.
The Somali Museum is also led by a nine-member Board of Directors and committee of advisors.
Notable visitors
In 2015, Boqor Burhaan, a regional king from
Puntland
Puntland ( so, Puntland, ar, أرض البنط, it, Terra di Punt or ''Paese di Punt''), officially the Puntland State of Somalia ( so, Dowlad Goboleedka Puntland ee Soomaaliya, ar, ولاية أرض البنط الصومالية), is a F ...
, Somalia, held a reception at the Somali Museum as part of a visit to the Somali community in Minnesota. Other notable Somali guests to the Somali Museum include former Prime Minister of Somalia
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed ( so, Cabdiweli Sheekh Axmed, ar, عبدالولي الشيخ أحمد; born 1959), also known as Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohammad, is a Somali economist and politician. He previously worked in the Somali military governmen ...
, former Minister of Defense of Somalia
Hussein Arab Isse
Hussein Arab Isse ( so, Xuseen Carab Ciise, ar, حسين عرب عيسى), also spelled Hussein Arab Issa, is a Somali politician. He was the Minister of Defence and the Vice President of Somalia of Somalia from 20 July 2011 to 4 November 2012.
...
, singer
Cadar Kahin
Cadar is a Romanian surname. Notable people with the surname include:
*Andrei Cadar
Andrei Cadar (born 6 February 1937), also known as András Kádár, is a Romanian equestrian. He competed in two events at the 1960 Summer Olympics
The 19 ...
, singer
Maryam Mursal
Maryam Mursal ( so, Maryan Mursal, ar, مريم مرسل) (born 1 January 1950) is a Somali composer and vocalist.
Biography
Mursal grew up in Somalia in a Muslim family with four daughters. Mursal's family was originally from Somaliland, and ...
, singer
Aar Maanta
Hassan-Nour Sayid ( so, Xasan-Nuur Sayid, known by his stage name Aar Maanta) is a Somali people, Somali–British singer-songwriter, actor, composer, instrumentalist and music producer.
Personal life
Maanta, born Hassan-Nour Sayid in Jigjiga, t ...
, fashion model
Halima Aden
Halima Aden is a Somali-American fashion model. She is noted for being the first woman to wear a hijab in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant, where she was a semi-finalist. Following her participation in the pageant, Halima received national attenti ...
, rapper
K'naan
Keinan Abdi Warsame (born 1 February 1978) ( so, Keynaan Cabdi Warsame, ar, كَينَان عَبدِ وَرسَمَ ''Kaynān ʿAbdi Warsama''), better known by his stage name K'naan (), is a Somali-Canadian musician. He rose to prominence ...
, entrepreneur
Amina Moghe Hersi
Amina Hersi Moghe ( so, Aamina Xirsi Mooge , ar, أمينة موجي هرسي) (born 1964) is a Somali entrepreneur. She has launched several multimillion-dollar projects in Kampala, Uganda. Her investments include ''Oasis Shopping Mall'' in K ...
and poet
Said Salah Ahmed
Said Salah Ahmed ( so, Saciid Saalax Axmed, ar, سعيد صالح أحمد) is a Somalis, Somali playwright, poet, educator and filmmaker.
Life
Said Salah was previously a biology teacher in Somalia. In 1984-1985, Ahmed directed his first featur ...
. Said Salah Ahmed was also the former chair of the Somali Museum's board of directors.
Notable guests in Minnesota government include U.S. Congressman
Keith Ellison
Keith Maurice Ellison (born August 4, 1963) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the 30th attorney general of Minnesota. A member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Ellison was the U.S. representative for from 2007 to ...
, U.S. Senator
Al Franken
Alan Stuart Franken (born May 21, 1951) is an American comedian, politician, media personality, and author who served as a United States senator from Minnesota from 2009 to 2018. He gained fame as a writer and performer on the television comed ...
, Mayor of Minneapolis
Betsy Hodges
Elizabeth A. Hodges (born September 7, 1969) is an American politician who served as the 47th Mayor of Minneapolis from 2014 to 2018. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represented Ward 13 on the Minneapolis Ci ...
, Minneapolis City Council Member
Abdi Warsame, U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district
Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Abdullahi Omar (born October 4, 1982) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2019. She is a member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. Before her election to Congress, Omar served in the Minnesota ...
and Minnesota State Representative
Karen Clark.
Location
The Somali Museum is housed in the Plaza Verde, a building owned and maintained by the Neighborhood Development Center, a non-profit small business incubator based in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2017, the building was purchased by businessman Khadar Adan. He named the building Jigjiga Business Center.
Resident artists
Resident artists at the Somali Museum have included traditional craftspeople, performance artists, painters, and storytellers. Artists Ardho Ismail, Hawa Ahmed, Amina Shire, and Halwa Daud weave textiles in a traditional nomadic style, teach weaving classes, and lead nomadic craft events at the Somali Museum. The museum gallery also displays paintings by Minnesota-based painters Aziz Osman and
Madaxay. Oral poets who have performed and taught at the Somali Museum include
Ahmed Ismail Yusuf and
Said Salah Ahmed
Said Salah Ahmed ( so, Saciid Saalax Axmed, ar, سعيد صالح أحمد) is a Somalis, Somali playwright, poet, educator and filmmaker.
Life
Said Salah was previously a biology teacher in Somalia. In 1984-1985, Ahmed directed his first featur ...
. Performance artists
Ifrah Mansour, Abdihakin BR, Naima Jookar, Mohamed Pracetimool, Safiya Tusmo, Abdijibar Alkhaliji, Hodan Abidrahman, Dalmar Yare, Rahma Rose, Ilkacase Qays, Anab Indho-Dheeq, Farhiyo Kabayare, Osman Bullo,
Ahmed Ali Egal,
Hibo Nura
Hibo Mohamed Nur, more famously known as Hibo Nura (Somali: Hibo Nuura, Hibo Maxamed Nuur, is one of the most prominent Somali singers born in 1954.
History
Hibo Mohamed Hudon, known as Hibo Nuura was born in Dilla, Somalia in 1954. Nuura began ...
,
Khadija Abdullahi Daleys and Aadar Kahin have also presented at events.
Logo
The Somali Museum's logo, which depicts a ''dhiil'', or traditional nomadic milk vessel, was designed by Kaamil Haider. The colors used in the logo echo colors of the iconic nomadic costume ''guntiino''.
See also
*
Somali art
Somali art is the artistic culture of the Somali people, both historic and contemporary. These include artistic traditions in pottery, music, architecture, woodcarving and other genres. Somali art is characterized by its aniconism, partly as a res ...
*
Somali American
Somali Americans are Americans of Somali ancestry. The first ethnic Somalis to arrive in the U.S. were sailors who came in the 1920s from British Somaliland. They were followed by students pursuing higher studies in the 1960s and 1970s, by the la ...
*
History of the Somalis in Minneapolis–Saint Paul
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...
*
List of museums in Minnesota
This list of museums in Minnesota encompasses museums which are defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scie ...
References
External links
Somali Museum of Minnesota
{{DEFAULTSORT:SomaliMuseum
Art museums and galleries in Minnesota
Arts organizations based in Minneapolis
Culture of Minneapolis
Museums in Minneapolis
Somali-American history