Twin Cities Museum Showcases Somali Art, Culture

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A new Twin Cities museum is showcasing Somali art and culture.

The Somali Artifact and Cultural Museum opened Saturday and features paintings of nomadic life and photos of Mogadishu along with traditional rugs, ancient writing tablets and lots of items made from animal skins.

Twin Cities businessman and restaurant owner Osman Ali started the effort five years ago. He says the idea of bringing the artifacts to Minneapolis came out of his desire to teach younger Somalis the story of nomadic life in Somalia.

He collected many of the items on five trips to Somalia, starting in 2009 when he returned to visit his ailing father.