Anna Rastas, Tampere University, and Ilona Niinikangas, Helinä Rautavaara Museum, write:
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.
