Somali Museum of Minnesota

Somali Museum of Minnesota The home of Somali culture and traditional arts in Minnesota. Hours:
Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun - 11:00-5:00 PM

Phone: (612) 886-3723
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The Somali Artifact and Cultural Museum is the home of traditional Somali arts and folklore in Minnesota. Somali nomadic traditional arts are endangered due to upheaval, migration, and the increasing urbanization of Somali society, but the Somali Museum’s collection of over 700 artifacts offers hope that the tradition will continue. As the only center dedicated to preserving and promoting Somali a

rts and folklore anywhere in the world, the Somali Museum is committed to providing high-quality educational programs and building community through folklore education. In addition, the Somali Museum fosters connections between community organizations, advocates, and artists, and provides resources to traditional artists, folklorists, and craftspeople in the Somali diaspora. The Somali Museum operates two central branches of arts education programming: artifact exhibits and arts learning. Through these two branches, the Somali Museum intends to foster the next generations of people appreciating and practicing Somali folk art forms. The Somali Artifact and Cultural Museum targets youth in the Somali community who have grown up without a connection to traditional arts, and non-Somali Minnesotans encountering Somali arts for the first time. The Museum’s programs are based on building bridges between these community members and those who carry the quickly-disappearing knowledge of traditional arts.

08/23/2026

Anniversary Moment — #5: Raising the Bar

The Somali Museum Dance Troupe is one of our most popular programs, consistently in high demand across the Twin Cities and beyond. But the 2023 era of dancers was something truly extraordinary. They arrived with a mission to set the standard higher than ever before.

Orchestrated by their coach, this performance was a masterclass in dedication. The dancers pushed every limit, testing their own abilities with daring stunts and never-before-seen movements in our dance program. It was an iconic display of athleticism and artistry that left the audience breathless and rightfully earns its place in our top 5 most memorable moments!

08/23/2026

Anniversary Moment - #6: Bringing the Drama Back

Back in the day, theater was the heartbeat of Somali culture, and the Somali Museum was determined to bring that magic back to the stage. We gathered a powerhouse cast of both rising stars and legendary icons, giving them a platform to remind us all why we fell in love with live performance in the first place.

This production was nothing short of epic, featuring the stage debut of the incredible Naimo Jookar, and a brilliant script written and directed by a 20-something Mohamed Paractimool. They were joined by legends like the iconic actress and poet Safiyo Tusmo, the electrifying Dalmar Yare, the soulful Ahmed Rasta, and our very own Outreach Director, Sarah Larsson, rounding out a cast that made history. The play at our 4th anniversary celebration had many memorable moments. It did not just entertain; it revived Somali theater, putting Somali theater back on the map, proving that the art form is more alive than ever.

08/20/2026

Anniversary Moment - #7: The Ilkacase Qays Phenomenon

lIkacase Qays brought an energy we’d never seen before at our 8th Anniversary Celebration. Dressed in tactical gear that mirrored the themes of bravery, strength, and resilience in his music, he turned the auditorium into a movement. When the crowd’s excitement reached a fever pitch, they couldn’t help but rush the stage, and Ilkacase met that energy head-on, stepping right into the crowd to perform alongside them. The audience was so electrified that they remained on their feet, dancing and cheering for the rest of the night. While we always prioritize safety and decorum at Somali Museum events, that night was a rare, beautiful exception where the passion simply overflowed. Everyone left safe, inspired, and buzzing from an unforgettable experience!
Who will bring down the house at this year’s 13th Anniversary Celebration? Which artist would you love to see take the stage this October?

08/15/2026

Anniversary Moment — #8: “It’s Not Easy Being Hawa Haji”

Hawa Haji took the stage at our 2022 anniversary celebration and delivered a stand-up rap that commanded the full attention of 1,500 inside Bethel University’s auditorium. Already known for her content creation, comedy chops, and for acting that same night in Osman Ali’s play “Dan Yeey u Tahay”, she views laughter and art as therapy and a powerful way to connect the community. This moment showcased her authentic spirit and left the crowd buzzing.

13th Anniversary Celebration

📅 October 31, 2026
🕔 Doors open at 5:00 pm
📍 Hopkins Center for the Arts

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

08/13/2026

We had such a wonderful night at the Somali Museum! Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate the launch of Ifrah F. Ahmed ‘s cookbook, Soomaaliya. It was a beautiful evening filled with delicious food, inspiring stories, dance, and great community connection.

If you want to keep the culinary journey going, join Ifrah for her monthly online Somali culinary workshop! It’s the perfect place to learn the ins and outs of Somali cooking with a rotating menu. You can watch here: https://youtube.com/ si=4n3QvJRN4mBfxll7

08/10/2026

Anniversary Moment — #9: Reunited and it feels so good!

In 1977, the renowned Somali national arts troupe, Hoballada Waaberi, performed their traditional music and folklore dance at FESTAC ‘77 in Lagos, Nigeria, where their folklore subgroup famously took home a gold medal. Two of the few living legends from that era, Osman Bulle (now in Boston) and Feynuus (now in the UK), had not shared a stage since that historic festival. That changed in 2019, when the Somali Museum invited them both to our 6th anniversary celebration, marking an emotional and historic reunion.

08/10/2026

Somali Tales & Family Night. Such a great session with Ifrah Mansour and Mohamed Hajji Ahmed, presented by the Somali Museum.

08/06/2026

This year’s Multicultural Heritage Gathering, hosted by the Somali Museum was a vibrant success and a wonderful celebration that profoundly enriched Minnesota’s cultural landscape.

The event was deliberately designed to bridge various sectors of society by bringing together our diverse communities and their distinct cultures. The wide variety of participants this year truly underscored the festival’s role as a pivotal community initiative aimed at fostering deeper cultural awareness and building interconnected relationships among Minnesota’s eclectic populations.

08/05/2026

Anniversary Moment — #11: The Stage Takeover
At our very first anniversary, held at the Avalon Theatre (Heart of the Beast), we didn’t have a dance troupe yet, so the audience took matters into their own hands! Someone sprinted next door to the Somali Museum to grab a drum, and the crowd spontaneously rushed the stage to dance the Jaandheer. It wasn’t planned, but it was pure, unscripted magic. A moment of community joy that lands at #11.

Address

2925 Chicago Avenue, Greenway Basement
Minneapolis, MN
55407

Opening Hours

Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+16128863723

Website

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