The new Somali Museum of Ohio will open its doors this weekend in Columbus
The new Somali Museum of Ohio will open its doors to the public on Labor Day weekend at the International Mall on Morse Road in north Columbus.
Every person has a journey behind them, traveled by those before them, which ultimately shapes the present and creates stories. These are roots, origin stories and for many, they provide a sense of grounding as they find their way in the world.
When Mohamed Ali saw a growing Somali population in Ohio – the state now has the second largest Somali population in the U.S. after Minnesota – he also recognized a growing need to actively nurture and re-tell Somali-American history and its vibrant culture and history to keep it alive.
“Whatever we say (to our children) today, they will say to their children in the future,” Ali said. “However they see us behaving today, how we live, how we will live in the future. Culture and tradition are like roots. If you don’t have a foundation and roots, you have no base to lean on.”
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Inspired, Ali began to envision a place of engagement, learning, and appreciation. Future generations wouldn’t have to travel 10,000 miles to reconnect with their roots; curious community members wouldn’t have to look far to learn about the cultural and historical background of their Somali neighbors.
All you have to do is enter the Somali Museum of Ohio.
“The Somali-American community has a rich and vibrant history that we did not want to forget,” Ali said.
“Seeing how other cultural groups have created museums to honor their heritage inspired me to create a similar space for the Somalis in Ohio. We want this museum to be a place where both Somalis and non-Somalis can come, where they can understand the depth and beauty of our culture.”
After years of preparation, the Somali Museum of Ohio is ready to open its doors to the public this weekend, offering an opportunity to learn about Somali culture and history through historical artifacts, exhibits and documents. The museum will also serve as a community center and host educational programs, workshops, cultural events and children’s book readings.
The goal, says Ali, is active engagement. Visitors will not be passive as they walk through the museum, but will have the opportunity to learn more about the artifacts and cultural assets through educational activities.
Although Ali is the museum’s founder, he says his efforts are a continuation of existing community efforts that came before him, including his own community involvement and organizational initiatives such as the Somali Cultural Festival, which he co-founded and directed with his friend Leebaan Osman.
Ali benefited from the support and contributions of community members and elders in his preparations, and in many ways it represents an extension of the work of people like Mohamud Dirios, a collector and preserver of Somali ethnography and staff member of the Somali Museum of Minnesota, who shared his expertise with Ali.
The museum also seeks to learn the wisdom of the generations by collecting stories of the “firsts” in Somalia’s history in Ohio. It is tracing the journeys of the first Somali families to settle in Ohio, the first business owners to open Somali-owned businesses and the first Somali-American state officials. Ali said those stories will soon be presented in a dedicated exhibit.
In this sense, there is an intergenerational movement at play in the creation of the museum. While the museum looks to the past, it also wants to leave a legacy for future generations.
“You know, Ohio is my second home,” Ali said. “As a father whose children were born here, my main goal is to ensure that the culture is preserved and lives on after I’m gone. I want the children who are here today to inherit our culture so they can pass it on to their future children.”
At a glance
The Somali Museum of Ohio opens its doors to the public this weekend from 3 to 7 p.m. at 1780 Morse Road in the International Mall.
Admission to the museum is free for visitors and there will be a shop selling merchandise to support the museum. Everyone is invited to visit the museum, regardless of their cultural background, and attend the grand opening celebration, which will include performances, guest speakers and interactive activities.
For more information about the museum, please contact [email protected].
