Somali Museum of Minnesota facts for kids
| Matxafka Soomaalida Minnesota (Somali) | |
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An exhibit at the Somali Museum of Minnesota
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| Former name | Somali Artifact and Cultural Museum |
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| Established | 2009 |
| Location | 2925 Chicago Lake Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Collections | Somali art, Culture of Somalia |
| Public transit access | Bloomington Ave & Lake St, Metro Transit (Minnesota) |
The Somali Museum of Minnesota is a special place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. It's also known as the Somali Artifact and Cultural Museum. This museum helps keep the rich Somali culture alive.
Many Somali people live in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. They came to the United States after a difficult time in Somalia. The museum shows more than 1,000 traditional items from Somalia. It also offers fun classes, art shows, and events that bring different cultures together. It might be the only museum in the world focused on saving Somali traditions!
Contents
Discover the Museum's Story
The Somali Museum of Minnesota officially started in December 2011. Before that, the museum's director, Osman Ali, was already working to save Somali culture. He collected old items and gave talks about Somali traditions in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
Opening the Doors to Culture
In 2013, the Somali Museum opened its public gallery on Lake Street. This is where the museum is located today. In 2014, the museum helped create a special art show in downtown Minneapolis. This was part of the "Made Here" project.
Celebrating Somali Heritage
In 2015, the museum celebrated its second birthday. There was a big party with Somali performers from all over the world. Famous artists like Fadumo Nakruuma and Nasteexo Indho performed. All the tickets for this event were sold out!
In 2018, the Somali Museum worked with the Minnesota Historical Society. They created an exhibit called "Somalis + Minnesota." This exhibit was even named one of the best in the United States by USA Today in early 2019. Later that year, the museum opened its own gift shop. It sells items made by Somali artists, authors, and fashion designers. In late 2019, the museum published its first book, "Baro Agabkaaga." This book describes the many items found in the museum.
Learning and Recognition
The Somali Museum offers many programs. You can take classes to learn about weaving, dance, and poetry. The museum also has traveling exhibits and events around the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. In 2015, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine called it Minnesota's "Best Mini-Museum." On October 1, 2016, Governor Mark Dayton even declared it "Somali Museum of Minnesota Day"!
Explore the Exhibits
The Somali Museum shows many items from the traditional nomadic life in Somalia. It also displays modern paintings by Somali artists. These artists live in Somalia and other parts of the world.
What You Can See
The museum's rooms feature exhibits of:
- Milk and water containers
- Woven items
- Tools used by women
- Items related to caring for camels
- Religious objects
The museum also has two traditional Somali houses. One is a nomadic home called an aqal Soomaali. The other is a village home called a mudul. The aqal Soomaali was first built on Lake Street in Minneapolis. Then, it was moved to the Somali Museum in July 2014.
Meet the Museum's Leaders
Osman Mohamed Ali is the executive director of the Somali Museum. In 2009, he visited Somalia. He was sad to see that young Somalis didn't know much about their traditional culture. He also found out that the only cultural museum in Somalia had been destroyed. This inspired him to start collecting items to create his own museum.
The Somali Museum is also guided by a group of nine directors and a team of advisors.
Famous Visitors
Many important people have visited the Somali Museum.
Somali Leaders and Artists
In 2015, Boqor Burhaan, a regional king from Puntland, Somalia, visited the museum. He held a special event there for the Somali community in Minnesota. Other notable Somali guests include:
- Former Prime Minister of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed
- Former Minister of Defense of Somalia Hussein Arab Isse
- Singers like Cadar Kahin, Maryam Mursal, and Aar Maanta
- Fashion model Halima Aden
- Rapper K'naan
- Entrepreneur Amina Moghe Hersi
- Poet Said Salah Ahmed, who also used to lead the museum's board
Minnesota Government Officials
Important guests from Minnesota's government have also visited. These include:
- U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison
- U.S. Senator Al Franken
- Former Mayor of Minneapolis Betsy Hodges
- Minneapolis City Council Member Abdi Warsame
- U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar
- Minnesota State Representative Karen Clark
Where to Find the Museum
The Somali Museum used to be in the Plaza Verde building. This building was owned by a group that helps small businesses. In 2017, a businessman named Khadar Adan bought the building. He renamed it the Jigjiga Business Center. The Somali Museum is now located in the Midtown Exchange Green (Lower) Level.
Artists in Residence
The Somali Museum has welcomed many talented artists. These include traditional craftspeople, performers, painters, and storytellers.
Crafts and Visual Arts
Artists like Ardho Ismail, Hawa Ahmed, Amina Shire, and Halwa Daud weave textiles in a traditional nomadic style. They also teach weaving classes and lead craft events at the museum. The museum also shows paintings by Minnesota-based artists Aziz Osman and Madaxay.
Performers and Storytellers
Oral poets like Ahmed Ismail Yusuf and Said Salah Ahmed have performed and taught at the museum. Many performance artists have also presented at events, including Ifrah Mansour, Hodan Abidrahman, and Hibo Nura.
The Museum's Logo
The Somali Museum's logo was designed by Kaamil Haider. It shows a dhiil, which is a traditional nomadic milk container. The colors in the logo are similar to the colors of the famous nomadic costume called a guntiino.
See also
- Somali art
- Somali American
- History of the Somalis in Minneapolis–Saint Paul
- List of museums in Minnesota
