Abdisalam Aato facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abdisalam Aato
عبد السلام عاتو |
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| Born | 1976 (age 48–49) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Film director, producer, entrepreneur, media consultant |
| Years active | 2000s–present |
Abdisalam Aato (Somali: Cabdisalaan Caato; Arabic: عبد السلام عاتو) was born in 1976. He is a Somali-American film director, producer, entrepreneur, and media consultant. He started Olol Films, a company that is a leader in the Somaliwood movement. This movement is a big part of the Somali film industry.
About Abdisalam Aato
Early Life and Journey
Abdisalam Aato was born in the 1970s in Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia. When a civil war started in Somalia in the early 1990s, he had to leave his home. In 1993, he moved to Kenya and lived in a refugee camp near Mombasa for more than three years.
In 1996, Abdisalam Aato came to the United States. His brother invited him to come. He first settled in Atlanta, Georgia, with his family. Later, in 2001, he moved to Columbus, Ohio. Many Somali people live in Columbus, and it is now his home base.
Abdisalam Aato is married. He says his wife is a great source of inspiration for him.
Making Movies and More
While living in Georgia, Abdisalam Aato began his career in broadcasting. He worked as a radio announcer at a local TV station called Media One. He started by writing short screenplays and then moved on to writing full-length movies.
After gaining experience in film production at Media One, Aato started his own company, Olol Films. This company is based in Columbus, Ohio. Olol Films is a key part of the Somaliwood movement, which is a new wave of filmmaking in the Somali film industry.
In 2003, he released his first full-length Somali movie, Rajo. The word Rajo means "Hope." This movie was an action drama about a young Somali refugee. It was a big production, even using a helicopter and fancy cars! Rajo was shown to full audiences in theaters in Ohio and Minneapolis. It is now known as the first film in the Somaliwood movement. It also made Columbus a major place for Somali films made by people living outside Somalia.
By 2007, Abdisalam Aato had produced, written, and directed nine feature films and documentaries. He works closely with his wife on all his film projects. She gives him advice and ideas to make his movies better.
Abdisalam Aato also created Bartamaha, a website about Somali music, short films, news, and culture. He also hosts a weekly TV and online show called the Wargelin Show. This show talks about Somali politics and society. Since 2013, Aato has also worked as a Senior Media Advisor for the Federal Government of Somalia.
Filmography
- Rajo (2003)
- Xaaskayga Araweelo (2006)
- Ambad (2011)
See also
In Spanish: Abdisalam Aato para niños
- Ali Said Hassan
- Idil Ibrahim
- Cinema of Somalia
