A nation without cultural archives is a nation without memory.
A nation without archives lacks historical continuity. Digitizing Somali history safeguards collective memory, allowing past generations to inform the future. This urgent effort ensures historical preservation, fosters national unity, and sustains cultural identity across generations.
The preservation of Somali history in a digital format is an essential undertaking that seeks to safeguard the nation's rich oral traditions, historical records, and cultural artifacts from the perils of time, conflict, and neglect. Somalia’s history has been transmitted primarily through oral storytelling, poetry, and radio broadcasting, making its archiving both a technical and cultural challenge. The digitization of historical records, particularly those related to Radio Mogadishu and Radio Hargeisa, holds immense significance in reconstructing Somalia’s past, fostering national identity, and ensuring access for future generations. Despite past efforts by NGOs and other entities, the urgency of preserving Somalia’s national memory has grown. Immediate action is required to prevent irreversible loss. Digitizing and making these archives publicly accessible online will strengthen connections between Somalis in the diaspora and their cultural heritage.
The Role of Radio in Somali Historical Documentation
Radio has played a pivotal role in Somalia’s modern history, serving as both a means of information dissemination and a repository of national heritage. Radio Mogadishu, a national voice was established in 1951 during the Italian trusteeship period, Radio Mogadishu was the first broadcasting station in Somalia. It became a key institution for Somali cultural preservation, recording political speeches, oral poetry (maanso), historical narratives, and musical performances. The station served as a platform for renowned Somali poets and intellectuals, who contributed to the oral tradition by documenting historical events and political discourse. During the Somali civil war in the early 1990s, some of the station’s archival content was either destroyed, looted, or lost due to instability and lack of preservation infrastructure.
Radio Hargeisa, founded in the 1940s under British colonial rule, was a critical medium for broadcasting Somali poetry, folklore, and historical narratives, particularly in the northern regions (present-day Somaliland). It was instrumental in documenting pre-independence political movements, pastoralist traditions, and the socio-cultural evolution of Somaliland. Following the collapse of the Somali government, a significant portion of its archives was lost, making digitization efforts crucial for recovering and preserving its historical content.
Challenges in Archiving Somali History Digitally
The process of digitizing Somali historical records faces several obstacles, including:
Fragmentation of Historical Materials – Many archival records are scattered across private collections, foreign institutions, and informal sources, making it difficult to consolidate a unified digital repository.
Lack of Infrastructure and Resources – Somalia faces limited technological capacity, funding, and institutional support for archival digitization projects.
Oral-Centric Historical Tradition – Unlike societies with extensive written records, Somali history has been preserved largely through oral poetry (gabay), storytelling (sheeko), and radio broadcasts, requiring specialized approaches for audio preservation and transcription.
Political and Legal Barriers – The political fragmentation of Somalia complicates coordinated efforts to establish a national digital archive, leading to disjointed initiatives and contested ownership of historical records.
Existing Efforts and Digital Archiving Initiatives
Despite these challenges, efforts to digitally preserve Somali history have been initiated by local institutions, international organizations, and diaspora communities. See the clip I shared in the post heading.
1. Restoration of Radio Mogadishu Archives
In recent years, efforts have been made to recover and digitize old recordings from Radio Mogadishu. The Somali government, with assistance from international partners, has sought to restore historical speeches, interviews, poetry recordings, and traditional music that survived the civil war. However, many original magnetic tape reels and cassettes remain vulnerable to degradation, emphasizing the urgency of digital conversion.
2. Somaliland’s National Library and Archives Initiative
The Somaliland government has initiated efforts to digitize historical materials through projects led by private initiatives. These projects aim to preserve oral poetry, colonial-era documents, and records of key historical events such as the SNM struggle and the British protectorate period. See Saxafi Media.
3. International Collaboration and Somali Diaspora Contributions
Organizations such as the British Library’s Endangered Archives Programme (EAP), along with universities and research centers, can play a pivotal role in supporting the digitization of Somali manuscripts and oral traditions. Moreover, Somali diaspora communities have established online repositories and digital libraries dedicated to the preservation of Somali historical materials. It is imperative, therefore, that the Somali government and its Ministry of Education engage in collaborative efforts with these entities.
A Framework for Digital Archiving of Somali History
To create a comprehensive and sustainable digital archive, a multi-faceted approach is required, integrating historical recovery, digitization, and public accessibility. The following framework outlines key steps:
Identification & Collection
Establish a nationwide initiative to locate and recover scattered archives, radio recordings, and oral history materials.
Partner with former radio broadcasters, poets, and historians to gather personal collections.
Digitization & Restoration
Convert audio tapes, cassettes, and written records into high-quality digital formats (MP3, WAV, PDF, etc.).
Use AI-driven transcription and translation tools to document oral history in Somali, Arabic, and English.
Archival Preservation & Storage
Implement cloud-based storage and secure digital backup systems to prevent data loss.
Establish partnerships with international institutions to access advanced preservation technologies.
Public Access & Education
Develop an open-access digital platform where researchers, students, and the Somali public can access archived materials.
Integrate digital archives into Somali educational curricula to ensure historical knowledge transmission.
The Future of Somali Digital Archives
The digital preservation of Somali history is not merely a technological project—it is a cultural necessity that ensures the survival of a nation’s historical identity. Given Somalia’s oral-centric historical tradition, particular focus must be placed on recovering and digitizing radio broadcasts, oral poetry, and historical narratives. The restoration of Radio Mogadishu and Radio Hargeisa archives is a critical step in this process.
The video presented above (in the heading of the post) documents the current progress of archival initiatives at the Hargeisa Cultural Centre1. I respectfully invite members of the Somali diaspora to contribute their expertise, resources, and support to further enhance and advance this significant project. Also, university students studying tech units in Hargeisa should consider volunteering in the digitization process.
Moving forward, a collaborative approach involving Somali institutions, international partners, and the diaspora is needed to build a robust digital archive that will serve scholars, policymakers, and future generations. Through technology, research, and cultural engagement, Somali history can be preserved beyond political turmoil and the constraints of time.
Postscript: As noted in a previous post from last year, I was part of the inaugural cohort of journalism students in Somalia—a formative experience that significantly deepened my interest in the discipline. During my studies and after, I visited a wide array of academic institutions, including universities, even single-room libraries, and cultural centers throughout Somalia. Yet, none of these experiences fully prepared me for the encounter at Radio Mogadishu on November 2, 2010 (see below). A more detailed analysis of this event and the many attempts to digitize the archive will be provided in a forthcoming post.
Stay tuned more on this and related topics, over the next weeks. I will write about my visit to the secondary school, Russian built hospital, the one room library, and the Sheikh Technical Veterinary School ( STVS was closed when I visited in Jan 2025). Neither the European Union, which provided the funding, nor the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, to which responsibilities were transferred, was able to provide an explanation. Consequently, I refrained from seeking further clarification from other sources. Share if you know why STVS is closed?
Comments, feedback as always welcome.
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