Dhaqan Collective

The Aqal (House of Weaving Songs)

Somali artists and producers, Ayan Cilmi and Fozia Ismail, known as the Dhaqan Collective, present a participatory soundscape using Somali nomadic weaving traditions to connect us to ancient cultural practices that can inspire us to build new futures.

The Aqal is a structure vital to Somali life, built to endure a harsh landscape with limited resources. Constructing one is a communal effort, with women weaving the structure together while singing songs that have been passed down through generations. Each aqal, therefore becomes a tapestry of multiple hands, histories and sounds, reflecting the lives and dreams of its creators.