The Library of Birmingham is being lit up in blue and white this evening, Wednesday, July 1, to commemorate a significant milestone in the history of the Somali diaspora in the city and the wider region. The library's lights will change precisely at 9.20 pm to celebrate the republic's independence from colonial rule.
Earlier in the day, the Somali flag was officially raised for the first time in Birmingham, during a ceremony outside the Council House in Victoria Square. The event drew a crowd of Somalis, allies, and civic leaders, including Somali pop singer Kiin Jamac, who has half a million YouTube followers. She led a joyous singalong in the square, marking the occasion.
A Historic Civic Celebration
This day marks the date in 1960 when the territories of Somalia, an East African country, were freed from Italian rule and formally unified. "This is a historic occasion for Somalis and celebrates our contributions to life and business in the city and region," said the organisers. The event is the midpoint of an eight-day festival coordinated by a group of young Brummies of Somali heritage, determined to debunk myths and challenge stereotypes about Somali culture and identity.
The festival, known as Somalinimo 2026, is the brainchild of Birmingham's award-winning poet laureate, Ayan Aden. Speaking at a roundtable gathering in Birmingham's Council House, she said: "There is a lot of negativity and fear around Somalia. For too long our story has been told for us by Hollywood and by non-Somalis and not by us. We need to reclaim our stories and celebrate each other and the contributions we make."
Community Leaders Speak Out
West Midlands Lord Lieutenant Sir Derrick Anderson attended the event and reflected on his move to Birmingham in 1968, describing a city under renewal but also full of tension between 'old and new communities'. He noted cycles of negativity and division since then but expressed hope and optimism for the future, urging the city to continue resisting division. "Let us not be put down or cowed by what you see on social media and the negatives you hear. Let us be uplifted by working together," he told the gathering.
He added: "We need to join in a shared vision of a place where we can feel comfortable with ourselves and each other, use our talents and skills to build prosperity, and where we feel we can join in. We also need to be honest with ourselves – it is up to us to speak up and have conversations about what can be done differently."
Diplomatic and Civic Support
Also present was the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia to the UK, Abdulkadir Hashi, who praised the organisers, along with the deputy lord mayor of Birmingham, Shafique Shah. The week-long festival features mostly free events, and remaining tickets can be booked via the Somalinimo ticket site. Follow @SomalinimoUK on TikTok and Instagram for updates.
Facts About Somalia
Somalia is a coastal country in East Africa, located on the 'horn of Africa', flanked by the Indian Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Aden to the north, placing it at the intersection of Africa and the Middle East. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti. Somalia covers a huge area of 637,000 square kilometres, with vast plains, arid deserts, and coastal towns. It has a population of around 19 million, many of them nomadic, mostly sharing a common faith, Islam, and languages, Somali and Arabic, giving a level of community cohesion despite its challenges. The country operates a federal parliament from the capital Mogadishu but has been racked by decades of external attack and internal war.
As a result, Somalia is often diminished to shorthand for chaos, civil war, violence, and famine. Recent headlines include the banishment of Somali referee Omar Artan from the USA ahead of the World Cup and piracy incidents immortalised in the Tom Hanks film Captain Phillips. Yet what is overlooked is that Somalis are one of Africa's most ancient and resilient people. Their culture, language, faith, poetry, and identity have withstood decades of oppression and forced migration. Famous Somalis include superstar athlete Mo Farah, model Iman (wife of David Bowie), and K'naan (Keinan Abdi Warsame), a highly acclaimed Somali-Canadian poet, singer, and rapper best known globally for his hit song 'Wavin' Flag', which became the anthem for the 2010 World Cup.
