Yunus Emre InstituteOrganised in collaboration with Global Somali Diaspora (GSD), GlobalNet, AGA, ASSOIT, the Anti-Tribalism Movement, and other partner organisations, the exhibition presents a diverse body of work spanning photography, painting, and mixed media. Through deeply personal visual languages, the artists offer layered narratives of Somali life—both past and present—rooted in migration, heritage, and everyday experience.
Among the featured artists are Abdurrahman Mohamed Abtidon, whose photographic compositions explore themes of nostalgia and urban transformation; Ali Naaji and Aden Farah Affey, whose works trace the contours of cultural memory through abstract forms; and Abdulkadir Sh Mohamed “Ato”, known for his expressive portraiture that captures generational stories of resilience.
Najma A. Hashi (Nujuum Arts) contributes vibrant mixed media pieces that examine womanhood and diaspora identity, while Mahad Mohamed and Yusuf Shegow use painting and illustration to reimagine Somali folklore in contemporary contexts. The exhibition also includes works by Ayan Aden, Bushra Mohamed, and Ibrahim Hersi, whose contributions offer intimate portrayals of Somali domestic and communal life. Rounding out the collective is a selection of work by students from the Somali University Art Department, whose fresh perspectives signal a new generation of creative voices emerging from the region.
My Somalia is not only a celebration of artistic expression—it is also a space for cultural storytelling and intergenerational dialogue within the Somali diaspora. By centring Somali voices and perspectives, the exhibition moves beyond conventional portrayals to offer a richer, more nuanced image of Somalia—one shaped by its people, their creativity, and the stories they choose to tell.
Hosted at Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London, My Somalia forms part of the Institute’s broader commitment to supporting diasporic communities and cultivating cross-cultural understanding through the arts.