Anniversary of the Mogadishu Music Festival finale events, starring Waayaha Cusub
On April 4th, we celebrate the anniversary of the finale of the historic 2013 Mogadishu Music Festival (also known as the Somali Reconciliation Festival), one of the largest international public events in Somalia since before the war. The Somali Sunrise Concert Tour for Peace, headlined by Waayaha Cusub, launched in Minneapolis on August 8th, 2012 and took us on peacebuilding concerts through the United States, onward to Kenya, and ultimately to Somalia, climaxing at the Mogadishu Music Festival, March 28th-April 4th, 2013.
Starring Waayaha Cusub (ft. Felis Abdi, Digriyow Abdi, Shiine Akhyaar, Lihle Muhudin, Burhan Ahmed Yare, and Ahmed Noor); Kombo Chokwe & Afro Simba; Alsarah; the Ariana Delawari Band; Jahm-Eye; & Bill Brookman, the festival events included: 1) Opening night (City Palace, Abdiaziz, March 27th, 2013); 2) International Solidarity Night (Wardigli Community Center, March 29th, 2013); 3) Sister Somalia (Elman Peace, March 31st, 2013); 4) Dalsan Open Mic (City Palace, March 31st, 2013); and finally the exciting and tough day, 5) the Rap-Against-Violence Show (Serendi Center, afternoon, April 4th, 2013), and 6) the finale, Somali Reconciliation Night, (City Palace, April 4th, 2013).
Waayaha Cusub produced the tour and festival with Humanitarian Bazaar, in cooperation with the Government of Somalia, United Nations Development Programme, Bill Brookman Foundation, Radio Daljir, Jazeera Palace, City Palace, the Wardigli Community Center, Elman Peace, and many other great organizations.