Improve and expand Somaliland's creative sector
Spaces for learning, production, networking, exhibition, performance, dialogue and collaboration.
At Fankeenna, Somali youth turn…
dreams into drawings
feelings into films
words into worlds
sounds into stories
conversations into connections
Our creative purpose
Entertain
Make space for imagination, enjoyment and the pleasure of experiencing creative work. The open mic, film screenings and live podcast recordings fill the creative courtyard every week.
Educate
Share knowledge, explore ideas and discover new ways of seeing the world. Working artists teach filmmaking, photography, drawing and graphic design in our workshops and masterclasses.
Engage
Bring people into conversation through the stories, images and sounds we share. After a screening, a talk or a podcast recording, the audience stays to discuss what it means for their own lives.
Empower
Make room for people to express themselves and take collective action. Young creatives get a stage and an audience for their work, and communities come together to act on the issues they share.
Where creatives meet and make work together
We give artists and creatives space, training, tools, mentorship and a platform to develop, show, promote and sell their work and services.
visual artists, painters, photographers, filmmakers, documentary makers, storytellers, poets, writers, spoken-word performers, illustrators, graphic designers, animators, digital artists, motion-graphics creators, sculptors, installation artists, mixed-media creators, collage artists, performance artists, conceptual artists, sound artists, music producers, DJs, beat-makers, singers, rappers, podcasters, actors, theatre performers, playwrights, costume designers, set designers, muralists, graffiti artists, calligraphers, printmakers, ceramic artists, textile artists, fashion designers, jewelry makers, crafters, weavers, product designers, architects, interior designers, creative technologists, VR artists, AR creators, game designers, app designers, creative coders, cartoonists, comic creators, zine-makers, book artists, creative writers, essayists, portrait, editorial, fashion and fine art photographers, sound recordists, editors, colour graders, cinematographers, drone filmmakers, producers, creative entrepreneurs, content creators, social media creatives, cultural researchers, heritage artists, upcoming artists and creatives finding their voice and style, and emerging multidisciplinary artists who don’t fit into any single box but create new art forms every day.
What we do
All programmes →
Fankeenna Film Fest
Somaliland's first recurring film festival. Screenings, jury, awards and talks.
Shaah iyo Shaxan
Our podcast. Tea, a board game and a long conversation with an artist, recorded live.
Open Mic
Makarafoonka Furan. Poetry, song, comedy and stories on our stage every week.
Exhibitions
Photography, painting, string art and more in our contemporary art gallery.
Youth-led media
Fankeenna Zine, short videos, creative campaigns and documentation made by young creatives.
Workshops
Film, photography, drawing, graphic design and visual storytelling with working artists.
Our space
A free and accessible creative space on Airport Road in Hargeisa: a courtyard stage, a contemporary art gallery, an open workspace, a production studio, an audio room, a library, ateliers and a gift shop. Members use it every day, and you can book it for your own event.
See the rooms and equipmentAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand action!
Why Fankeenna matters
Somaliland has a young population with strong creative talent. There are a few galleries and studios, but no creative schools, cinemas, professional theatres or career paths for artists. Most young creatives work alone, and their talent goes unseen and unpaid.
Fankeenna connects space, skills, production, public platforms and advocacy in one place, so talent can grow into work, income and change.
Vision, mission and theory of changeStrengthen the creative economy
Training, resources, visibility, networks and market access so young people can earn from their creative skills.
Use creativity for social change
Creative programming that raises awareness, brings people together and supports collective action on shared issues.
Sponsor an event, partner with us, give in kind or volunteer.
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