| Cinema of Somalia |
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| List of Somali films |
| Somali Film Agency |
| Somaliwood |
Somaliwood is an informal name for the Somali film industry that has developed inColumbus, Ohio, where a largeSomali diaspora exists.[1][2][3] Following the model ofBollywood, the name is aportmanteau of the words "Somali" and "Hollywood", the center of the American film industry.
"Columbus is like the Hollywood of Somalia now because the biggest production studio is here, and that's us[...] So all the famous Somali actors are here in Columbus."
The earliest forms of public film display inSomalia were Italiannewsreels of key events during the colonial period inItalian Somaliland. Growing out of theSomali people's rich storytelling tradition, the first few feature-length Somali films and cinematic festivals emerged in the early 1960s, immediately after independence.[5] Following the creation of theSomali Film Agency (SFA) regulatory body in 1975, the local film scene began to expand rapidly.[6] In the 1970s and early 1980s, popular musicals known asRiwaayado were the main driving force behind the Somali movie industry. Epic and period films as well as international co-productions followed suit, facilitated by the proliferation ofvideo technology and national television networks.[5]
In the 1990s and 2000s, a new wave of more entertainment-oriented movies emerged in theSomali diaspora. Referred to asSomaliwood, this upstart cinematic movement energized the local movie scene, in the process introducing innovative storylines, production techniques and advertising strategies. The latter includecross-media marketing, withtie-in film soundtracks featuring prominentSomali music artists. Popular movies from Somaliwood include the Somali languageslasherthrillerXaaskayga Araweelo, theaction comedyRajo, andWarmooge, the first Somalianimated film. The young directors Abdisalam Aato of Olol Films, and Abdi Malik Isak are at the forefront of this quiet revolution.[4] In 2010, the Somali directorMo Ali also releasedShank, his first feature film set in a futuristic London.[7]
