Somali Museum turns 13 as zombies and a Day of the Dead festival take over the Twin Cities

Somali, Southeast Asian and Latine artists are exploring mortality, heritage and displacement head-on this weekend. The Somali Museum of Minnesota marks 13 years of preserving Somali history saved from civil war, Theater Mu debuts a supernatural play at The O Shaughnessy, and the Festival de las Calaveras brings Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) traditions to Lake Street. Somali Museum Dance Troupe Credit: Steffen Sharikov (Steffen Studios) The Somali Museum’s 13th anniversary The Somali Museum of Minnesota, the first museum in North America dedicated to Somali culture, offers a glimpse into traditional Somali home life. Ceremonial drums, coastal jewelry, radios, farming tools and beds made from cowhide reflect the country’s craftsmanship. The museum houses more than 1,500 cultural artifacts. Founder Osman Ali began gathering objects in 2009 to preserve Somalia’s cultural heritage after the country’s National Museum was destroyed during the civil war. Ali, a for