Tuesday May 26, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — In a meeting that underscored the enduring power of words in Somali public life, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Monday sat down with leading Somali poets and literary figures to discuss how arts and literature can help deepen public awareness, support state-building and reinforce national identity. Mohamud used the occasion to commend Somali poets for what he described as decades of service in defending national unity, safeguarding cultural heritage and delivering messages that…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — In the shadow of sandbagged checkpoints and concrete blast walls, the National Theater sits like a survivor. Years after a suicide bomber tore through its auditorium, the stage still glows under hard light. On a recent morning, Hassan Barre stepped forward to offer a different emblem of Somalia: poetry. “Somalis must be aware of their responsibility to their country and each other,” he recited, his cadence steady and unhurried. The 70-year-old cut a somber figure at the podium, his voice carrying over a…