In May 2026, Somalia will make history by participating in the Venice Biennale, a major international art exhibition. This event marks the country's first national pavilion, aiming to rebuild its cultural heritage after years of conflict. The pavilion, called SADDEXLEEY, features three female artists of Somali background: Warsan Shire, Asmaa Jama, and Ayan Farah. Their work explores themes of poetry, memory, and identity.
Warsan Shire's poetry will be featured on the ground floor, focusing on human connection. Asmaa Jama will present video and performance art on the middle level, looking at how to preserve cultural memory. Ayan Farah's embroidered textiles, using Somali clay and Scottish shells, will be on the top floor, examining landscapes and politics.
After the Venice exhibition, the art will move to the National Museum of Mogadishu. However, the pavilion has caused debate. Some Somali cultural groups feel excluded, arguing that artists who have worked in Somalia were not consulted enough. They also question the involvement of an Italian co-curator, given Italy's colonial history in Somalia. Despite these disagreements, the pavilion is seen as an important step for Somalia's art scene, offering a chance to reconnect with its cultural past.