With and beyond museums. Cultural heritage work in the Somali diaspora

Abstract

This article looks at how new diaspora communities are carrying out heritage work with and outside museums. Based on a multidisciplinary theoretical framework, extensive research materials and long-term collaboration with Somalis who have been involved in museum and exhibition projects in Finland, our ethnographic study illustrates how Somalis cherish and talk about their cultural heritage in diaspora. Our analysis reveals the complexity of diaspora communities’ cultural heritage and how Finnish museums have—or not—recognised the rapidly growing Somali diaspora. It also shows the extent of independent cultural heritage work that Somalis do outside museums. Our findings contribute to discussions on inclusive museum work.