Culture House, the UK's first permanent exhibition and cultural space dedicated to Somali heritage, has opened in London. Located off Uxbridge Road, the venue features a collection of over 150 artefacts, a rotating exhibition, poetry workshops, and a digital archive. The non-profit Anti-Tribalism Movement (ATM) leads the project, aiming to 'celebrate, preserve and connect' Somali culture and communities.
The artefacts are grouped into three themes: Spiritual Echoes, Threads of Daily Life, and Crafting for the Individual. Items include hand-carved combs, wooden headrests, camel bells, and incense burners, each labelled with its place of origin and usage in nomadic communities. A main room displays portraits of Somali locals with their favourite cultural objects, captured by Nimbles Archive.
The collection grew organically from over 15 years of community donations. 'They were just sitting in boxes and suitcases in people's homes,' said Intisar Yusuf, operations director. 'Many people in the community realised that if we don't preserve these objects now, we risk losing them altogether.' A trial exhibition at the International Somali Awards in 2016 demonstrated the emotional impact of such items, prompting the team to create a permanent space.
The building, once a fire station and later a storage unit, was redesigned with architecture studio Freehaus. Traditional Somali design elements include geometric wall ventilation features and lampshades modelled after hand-woven baskets. 'We wanted people to feel like they were stepping into a Somali cultural space, as if you're stepping back home,' Yusuf said.
Community response has been 'overwhelmingly positive', with visitors requesting a larger space and more events. Learning officer Abeer Ali noted, 'With our capacity, it has proven to be difficult. But it's a good problem to have – it just shows how needed a space like Culture House is.' Elder Mama Asha, who donated artefacts, expressed hope: 'I never thought I would see a Somali cultural object in London. I thought this would disappear in people's memories – seeing this gives me hope.'
