In collaboration with Israac Somali Community Association, we are excited to launch the Somali Week Express Festival in Sheffield with an evening of poetry, traditional Somali dance, and live music. The opening night will feature headline performances from the incredible Nimco Degan and Abdirahman Nasri, promising a vibrant celebration of Somali culture through words, movement, and song.
After opening remarks, this will be followed by a poetry performance and conversation with Saaid Ali and Buurmaax. Saaid is a Somali poet and content creator from the UK. With a background in electrical and railway engineering, he transitioned from technical work to digital storytelling and poetry, using words to spark reflection and amplify untold community stories. Buurmaax is a poet, songwriter, educator, and cultural activistist based in London.
This will be followed by a short film A Story Left Behind by Asma Kabadeh. Asma is a creative producer and filmmaker with an extensive background in collaborative arts initiatives, working across arts and heritage, community development, and documentary film. Her work focuses on under-represented voices, and she enjoys creating spaces to bring people together to discuss, experiment and create. Her debut short film, 'A Story Left Behind' (BFI DocSociety funded), premiered at Sheffield Docfest in 2025 - accompanied by an impact campaign which delves further into archival records, and their fragments for Somali and wider diaspora communities.
Short Synopsis
Having moved to Sheffield from Somalia at 11, Najma feels like many migrants: straddling two worlds yet disconnected from both.She discovers a short storybook in the Sheffield Library written by Halima, a Somali woman who arrived in the UK in 1956. The information creates a limited, fragmented, and deeply sombre narrative. A Story Left Behind follows Najma as she tries to fill in the gaps in Halima's story, exploring the contradictions of what Halima recorded of her life and what she omitted. Through the process, Najma embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
The film celebrates Sheffield's vibrant Somali community while discussing the universal importance of archiving cultural history as an anchor for future generations.
Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAqxWbd9rrs
The evening will conclude with Traditional Somali dance performances and headline performances from Abdirahman Nasri and Nimco Degan. Abdirahman Nasri (Nasri) is a Somali singer-songwriter acclaimed for his soulful vocals and compelling storytelling. His music blends traditional Somali influences with modern pop, with hits such as Magacsan, Kugu Marmay, and Maamiya (Raadiyaa). With a strong social media presence, especially on TikTok, he is rapidly becoming a global voice for young Somali audiences. Nimco Degan is a UK-based Somali artist known for her distinctive voice and musical contributions that blend traditional melodies with contemporary themes, resonating deeply with diverse audiences.
