Nairobi (Halbeeg News) – Somali cultural week will today kick off in Mandera town near Kenya’s border with Somalia.
The event organised by Mandera County government will bring together all Somali speaking communities to celebrate their traditions and heritage.
According to Mandera deputy governor, Mohamed Arai, communities from Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Somalia will attend the celebration which will showcase the Somali culture and heritage to the outside world.
“We have put in place all that we could to make the event to take place. We have concluded the process today, and hopefully, the event will start tomorrow with the majority of participants arriving before the start of the event,” said Arai who spoke to the media on Saturday.
A museum will be opened in Mandera to display the Somali artefacts, according to the county government.
Mandera county executive member for education and Culture Izzidun Abdullahi Abdi last week said the county had planned the event to run for three days.
“We are just confirming that everything is in place for the real event that will see all clans represented and many other visitors coming into Mandera to learn about our culture,” he said.
The event is open to all, according to Mandera Governor, Ali Roba, and communities from both Somalia and Ethiopia will be attending.
“We have invited everybody to come and learn our Somali culture, and this will be a reminder to our generations on the importance of preserving our culture and heritage,” he said.
The event will also provide a platform for community integration and cohesion after decades of clan feuds between different communities in Mandera.
“It is a new beginning in observing our culture, and we are looking forward to a productive and successful event that will be observed each year,” said Roba.
Somalis who are among the largest communities in East Africa live in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti and several other countries in the region.
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