Create | 2030 Somalia: Artistic freedom and expressions for sustainable development

UNESCO celebrates Somali Heritage Week in Kenya with the organization of the first Create|2030 Talk for Somalia, which is taking place on Friday, 18 October 2019 from 5pm to 7pm at the National Theatre in Nairobi.

Create|2030: Somalia Talk, part of a discussion serires on the principles of UNESCO's Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, is taking place on the opening night of the 2019 edition of Somali Heritage Week in Kenya in order to raise awareness of the importance of the diversity of cultural expressions, international exchange and cooperation to promote the cultural and creative industries for peacebuilding and sustainable development.

UNESCO has partnered with the Awjaama Omar Cultural Trust for the organization of the Talk, which will be broadcast live on RTN Somali Television.

“UNESCO is pleased to join hands with the Awjaama Omar Cultural Centre for the organization of the 2019 edition of the Somali Heritage Week in Kenya”, said Ms. Ann-Therese Ndong-Jatta, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa. “This is an important annual event, which brings together Somalis and friends of Somali culture to learn more about the rich cultural heritage and cultural diversity of Somalia, and to promote intercultural dialogue and exchange, which is at the heart of peacebuilding and social cohesion,” she added.

“Somalia was once known as a nation of poets; however, the cultural and creative industries in Somalia have been gravely affected the civil war,” said Ms. Fardowsa  Jama, Director of the Somali Heritage Week and Executive Director of the Awjaama Omar Cultural Trust. “This panel discussion recognizes that creativity is a basic requirement for development of society, and thus invites Somalis' best creative minds—prominent Somali creative industries personalities — to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing women and creativity in Somalia.”

The event will bring together four panelists from Somalia, including: Mr. Ildle Yare, a Somali musician and actor; Mr. Abwaan Said Nuur Gure, a prominent Somali poet, playwright and actor; Ms. Nasra Yusuf Ahmed, the first female Somali stand-up comedian; and Ms. Agoro Adhiambo, a poet, spoken-word artist, writer and blogger. The Create|2030: Somalia Talk will be moderated by Mr. Abdiaziz Ahmed Barrow, a journalist from RTN Somali TV.

The panelists will discuss issues related to the following questions:

• What is artistic freedom to you?
• What is the state of the Somali creative industries today?
• What are the challenges and opportunities for women’s access to the creative sector?
• What policies and measures are needed to support the mobility of artists and cultural professionals?

The panel discussion will be followed by a question/answer session with the public.

In the framework of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, UNESCO regularly organizes Create|2030 Talks, which are a series of talks with artists, academics, policy makers and entrepreneurs from around the world to discuss how investments in creativity can have a direct impact on achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These talks aim to introduce innovative ideas for the cultural and creative sectors that promote gender equality, fundamental freedoms, quality education, economic growth and decent jobs between countries.

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