The Village Next To Paradise

Dir. Mo Harawe | Cast: Ahmed Ali Farah, Anab Ahmed Ibrahim, Ahmed Mohamud Saleban | 2024

4 Nov | Rich Mix, London

The Somalia we rarely see in the media

The Village Next to paradise is a SOMALI FILM about an Unorthodox family trying to make ends meet and improve their lives.

Shot entirely in Somalia with a cast of amateur actors, the village next to paradise showcases Somali life beyond one-dimensional headlines. it balances the difficulties of living in tough political and economic times with its characters’ aspiration and determination.

hope punctuates every beat, And laced into The Village Next to Paradise’s narrative is somalia’s culture of generosity and humour.

Unfortunately, the village next to paradise is not streaming at the moment. You can always get a group together and license the film for community viewing.

linked under the trailer is the film’s distributor, Totem films.

Rights

A Nation Of Poets

Somali poetry is one of the richest oral traditions in the world. For centuries, it has expressed love, courage, faith, and resistance, giving voice to one Somali generation after another. This oral tradition is still strong today—even with the dispersal of its children across the world—poets like Warsan Shire, K’Naan, Zahra Abdihagi and Suldaan Seeraar follow in the footsteps of great Somali poets by keeping their oral and lyrical heritage alive for new generations.

Zahra Abdihagi

Zahra Abdihagi is a Somali poet whose work aims to change how the world views Somalia. She also runs creative workshops that equip Somali communities with skills of Digital storytelling.
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WARSAN SHIRE

A woman wearing a mustard yellow beanie and patterned jacket with a geometric design, standing in a dimly lit environment. 
Warsan Shire is aSomali-British poet and writer, widely acclaimed for her poetry on identity, migration, and the Somali diaspora. Warsan's work has gone viral a few times due to her contributions to Beyoncé’s Lemonade and her poem Home.
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Portrait of a young man wearing a black hat and a blue shirt, with his hand resting under his chin, looking at the camera.

SULDAAN Seeraar

Suldaan Seeraar is a contemporary Somali singer who integrates traditional rhythms, instruments, and poetry into modern music. His songs celebrate Somali culture, while connecting to the broader East African culture and community..

K’ NAAN

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Close-up of a man with a beard and mustache, wearing a black headwrap and a yellow scarf, leaning against a brick wall.
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K’Naan is a Somali-Canadian poet, rapper, and musician known for fusing hip-hop with Somalia's rhythmic  storytelling. His lyrics often address war, displacement, social justice, and resilience, giving a modern voice to Somali experiences worldwide.

A Culture of Oral Histories

For more on Somali Oral history visit KAYD SOMALI ARTS & CULTURE culture house and @Somalitography7