Kayd.org

23-31 October 2009 – [see updates in this post] [see the 2009 Festival Sponsorship]

Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, Bethnal Green, London E2 6HG

The SWF is an established festival within the Somali community in London, nationally and internationally. It celebrates and explores the uniqueness of Somali art and culture. The festival will again focus on poetry, prose literature and music which will be presented by artists allowing amble time for discussions between artists, professional guests and the audience. SWF will present and celebrate Somali arts and culture by again featuring international and UK-based artists of the highest calibre in a vibrant programme of events.

In the SWF 2007, our featured artists included; Mahamed Ibrahim Warsame “Hadraawi”, Xassan Abdilahi Hassan “Ganey”,  Abdilahi Bootaan, Aways Khamiis Abdaleh, Maryan Musal , Saynab Iggeh, Fatumo Qaasim. In 2008, we were very excited to have explored the idea of Gobannimo with renowned artists and writers such as Ali Sugule, Dararamle, Hudaydi ” King of Lute”, Ahmed Aw Geeddi, Mahamed Dahir “Afrah” Ahmed Yusuf Shaacir, Adan Tarabi “Mahamed Ahmed Kulu, Lafoole, and more.

SWF 2009 will explore the theme of arts censorship and creative freedom of expression throughout the extensive programme of events. This idea is inherent to Kayd as an organisation and we work within the arts and our communities to promote freedom of expression and its meaning with regards to the role that artistic freedom plays in a free, modern society.

Censorship, in its broadest meaning, refers to the suppression of information, ideas, or artistic expression. Generally, the reasons given for ‘censoring’ any material or expression are that they are considered immoral, blasphemous, seditious or perceived to be injurious to a country’s national security. Whilst the festival’s programming aims to celebrate artists’ creativity, it will also discuss the important role that art can play within society in general and how artists have experienced acts of censorship in particular. Some of the topics that will be explored are: Whether acts of censorship were experienced differently by different artists. What was the artists’ reaction to acts of censorship? What did hey decide to do about it? Do these artists, with the help of hindsight, now think that they should have made other choices at the time?

We also want to encourage and support young and emerging Somali artists and to talk to young people about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in order to advance consciousness of the declaration now in its 60th Anniversary Year which began on 10 December 2008. At a time when young people feel that their right to rights is being challenged it is important that they are aware that they can be instruments of change.

The international aspect of the festival is an important part of our continued development and partnership work with artists and organisations in Somali-speaking territories (see: Mooge Festival)