Somali Object Journeys
The first Object Journeys project at the British Museum has been a partnership with members of the London Somali community.
The project group is interested in Somali heritage and working with the Museum to enable greater access to the collection and showcasing aspects of Somali culture that might otherwise be unfamiliar to the public. Throughout the project, the group worked collaboratively with British Museum staff to investigate and explore the Somali object collection and photography archive collection. Read more…
Remembering the Culture of Basket Weaving in Somalia by Abukar Elmi Gure
There aren’t many women displayed on international currencies, especially normal women making a simple living from basket weaving, so how did hoyoo Hawo appear on the Somali one thousand shilling note?
Eye on Somali Culture Event
On the evening of Friday 7th October 2016, the Somali Object Journeys project hosted a performance-filled event to celebrate the new Somali display case in the British Museum’s Wellcome Gallery. The display case, Objects of Survival: the Beauty of Somali Craftwork, is...
The Somali incense burner
Leyla Bile, talks about her understanding of the Somali incense burner.
Fun for all the family
On the 12th November 2016, the Somali Object Journeys project hosted a family day to celebrate the new Somali display case in The British Museum’s Wellcome Gallery. Opened in early October the...
Archive images display
Archive images display
The Somali Ornament
How it ended its journey at the British Museum in London
by Abukar Elmi
Exploring the Somali archives at the Powell-Cotton Museum
A sample of the wonderful photographs from the Powell-Cotton Somali collection
British Museum Somali archive images
Somali archive images
Somali Incense Burner
Somali Incense Burner
Somali Headrest
A Somali carved wooden headrest or Barkin/Barjin.
Somali Object Journeys
The first Object Journeys project at the British Museum has been a partnership with members of the London Somali community.
Most recent
Remembering the Culture of Basket Weaving in Somalia by Abukar Elmi Gure
There aren’t many women displayed on international currencies, especially normal women making a simple living from basket weaving, so how did hoyoo Hawo appear on the Somali one thousand shilling note?
The project group is interested in Somali heritage and working with the Museum to enable greater access to the collection and showcasing aspects of Somali culture that might otherwise be unfamiliar to the public. Throughout the project, the group worked collaboratively with British Museum staff to investigate and explore the Somali object collection and photography archive collection. Read more…
Eye on Somali Culture Event
On the evening of Friday 7th October 2016, the Somali Object Journeys project hosted a performance-filled event to celebrate the new Somali display case in the British Museum’s Wellcome Gallery. The display case, Objects of Survival: the Beauty of Somali Craftwork, is...
The Somali incense burner
Leyla Bile, talks about her understanding of the Somali incense burner.
Fun for all the family
On the 12th November 2016, the Somali Object Journeys project hosted a family day to celebrate the new Somali display case in The British Museum’s Wellcome Gallery. Opened in early October the...
Archive images display
Archive images display
The Somali Ornament
How it ended its journey at the British Museum in London
by Abukar Elmi
Exploring the Somali archives at the Powell-Cotton Museum
A sample of the wonderful photographs from the Powell-Cotton Somali collection
British Museum Somali archive images
Somali archive images
Somali Incense Burner
Somali Incense Burner
Somali Headrest
A Somali carved wooden headrest or Barkin/Barjin.
Somali Water Vessel
Somali water vessel or Ubo made out of a gourd, a dried large fruit with a hard skin.
Somali Object Journeys at the British Museum – an introduction to the project
The first Object Journeys project at the British Museum has been a partnership with a core group of ten London-based Somali adults. Working with the Museum from November 2015 the group meet frequently to explore and research the Museums Somali collection of objects and to work with the Museum to produce a new display case and an ongoing programme of events.