Friday November 29, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) — Italy has donated 2,000 rare books and digitized archival materials to Somalia in a bid to preserve the country’s cultural heritage and aid its recovery from decades of conflict, marking a significant step toward rebuilding its educational foundation.
At a ceremony in Mogadishu attended by Somali officials and the Italian ambassador, Italy presented a collection of rare texts, dictionaries, and journals in Somali, Italian, and other languages. This trove, described as invaluable, aims to restore Somalia’s historical memory and provide essential resources for its educational recovery.
The donation forms part of the Somalia Archives project, a collaboration between Roma Tre University and the Somali National University that began in the 1980s. It encompasses unpublished manuscripts, traditional poems, school textbooks, and rare recordings that capture Somali cultural practices and debates, offering a window into the country’s rich heritage.
The initiative was led by Professor Annarita Puglielli of Roma Tre University and Professor Cabdalla Cumar Mansuur of the Somali Language Academy, who collaborated to safeguard Somalia’s cultural legacy. Their decades-long efforts ensured the preservation of critical materials despite the challenges posed by conflict and institutional collapse.
Officials lauded the donation as a pivotal step in rebuilding Somalia’s education system, which was decimated during decades of civil war. The resources will provide students and researchers with access to vital historical and educational materials. In a follow-up ceremony, Italy will transfer a digital archive of Somali laws and bulletins from 1950 to 1989, further enriching the country’s institutional memory.
During the ceremony, attendees explored an art exhibition organized by ASSOIT, an Italian-Somali socio-cultural association. The exhibit featured works by emerging Somali artists, blending traditional influences with contemporary themes to reflect the enduring relevance of Somalia’s historical memory.