EU awards the winners of the peace poetry competition

Mogadishu – The European Union awards the winners of the Silsiladda Nabadda poetry competition to celebrate the International Day of Democracy.

Five young poets were recognized this year for their award-winning poetry submissions as part of the EU funded Silsiladda Nabadda poetry competition. The announcement was made at the Silsiladda Nabadda award ceremony held in Mogadishu. In attendance were representatives from the government and the European Union as well as the NGO and international community. The recipients of the awards, as well as the shortlisted candidates, presented their poems during the event.

“I am honored to celebrate these bright young poets, said Nicolas Berlanga Martinez, EU Ambassador to Somalia. The EU is proud to host the participants today in Mogadishu. On the eve of the International Day of Democracy, we recall that democracy is about the people and most importantly the youth. Democracy is also about participation which is fundamental to peace, prosperity and the respect of human rights. Young poets’ contributions are like small pieces of radiography of Somali society, each one with its different tonality; but all of them full of aspirations for peace and reconstruction in Somalia.

The European Union launched the Silsiladda Nabadda poetry competition with the support of young Somalis to bring back the revered and historic Silsilad poetry tradition. The youth-driven initiative was open to all Somalis across the world and its aim was to hold a community-wide discussion among Somali youth on the concepts of democracy and peace.

The competition received entries across all four corners of the world- reaching Melbourne, Bosaso, Stockholm, Hargeisa, New Delhi, Seattle, London, Lahore, Baidoa, Mogadishu among other global and local cities.

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