Photo-Poetry Co-Creation for Peace

Culture and Heritage

The EU-funded ArtXchange Program held a Photo-Poetry Co-Creation event in April 2022 at the Astaan Hall in Mogadishu. A group of creative youth consisting of 6 poets and 5 photographers performed poetry recitations coupled with photography exhibitions displayed on large screens.

Both the event and workshop were organized and facilitated by ArtXchange in collaboration with two youth-led Somali groups, namely Somali storytellers and MyGallery252 as well as Astaan TV. More than 70 guests attended the event. 

The poets each composed new poems that came out of their collaborations with the other participating photographers. The event's title was "Imagine Peace in Somalia." The poems were based on various topics around peace such as coherence within diverse communities, women's education towards peace at the grassroots, and peace within the city space and the environment. The young photographers each exhibited and explained the meaning and inspirations for their photos.

Somalia is popularly known as the nation of poets and many young Somalis value this art form long with literature.

 

   

   

 

 

   

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