Biography
A feminist art collective of Somali women established in Bristol in 2019, dhaqan collective centres the voices of women and elders in the Somali community, privileging co-creation and collaboration. The collective’s practice, led by researchers, creative producers and artists Fozia Ismail and Ayan Cilmi, seeks to build imaginative futures that support Somali people as they resist threats to their cultural heritage and environment.
The collective uses everyday materials, cassette tapes, food and textiles to create spaces of communion, joy and healing that focus on the full range of Somali diasporic experiences. Its creative ecology is rooted in the collective thinking of Somali nomadic life and the creativity at its heart.
Previous projects include Camel Meat & Tapes (2020) and Audible Tapestries (2022). The collective has also designed and delivered talks and workshops on their practice for a range of organisations and universities.
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