Your Hello To My Goodbye

Abdimalik Ahmed

Writer, Director
Abdimalik Ahmed is a filmmaker, photographer, playwright, poet, actor, and stage director in NE Minneapolis. His screen acting work includes Apple TV+ series Little America, as well as various short films by local filmmakers - including 'Balwo' by Mohammed Sheikh. He won an award for Best Actor at the University of Minnesota Film Festival for his work in his own short film 'Isn’t This What I’m Supposed to Feel' (2023), which was additionally nominated for Best Cinematography, and was selected in short film festivals from Minneapolis to Brazil. His stage acting career began with the eponymous role in an adaptation of Hamlet in summer 2022. Working again with director Penelope Parsons-Lord in 2023, he played Tituba in her staging of The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The same year, he wrote, acted, and directed his own one-man show titled The Place I Return To (2023), which ran for several nights at Mixed Blood Theatre during the MN Fringe Festival. Abdimalik’s 2020 essay Blackness & George Floyd in a Black Immigrant Family: No Language to Grieve was widely shared, and he was interviewed by Buzzfeed News and The Minnesota Daily. He shares his poetry online and frequents open-mic nights across the city. You can find selections from his photography on his Instagram, as well as film and book reviews. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Minnesota, and works at MSP Film Society & the MSP International Film Festival, and as a Production Coordinator on various commercials. He is currently a Cinema Bridge Fellow with The Qalanjo Project.

Abduwahid Mohamed

"Friend 3"/Actor
I’m an artist that does Somali traditional dances. I am currently a junior in college majoring in Psychology and Education. Since I was a kid, I have always wanted to perform on stages, and I have done so as a dancer performing on major stages in the United States and abroad. However, this is my first acting experience, and I am very excited about it and hope to perform more as an actor in the future.

Asha Abukar

BTS Photography, Marketing Team
I’m Asha Abukar. I work behind the scenes capturing photos, shooting videos, and conducting mini interviews with our cast and crew. I also help out with marketing and lend a hand wherever I’m needed. I’m currently majoring in Marketing and UI/UX Design, and I love expressing my creativity through painting, photography, and connecting with other creative people. Being part of a passionate team and sharing our journey with others truly inspires me.

Khalid Dahir

"Ali"/Actor
My name is Khalid Dahir, a 27-year-old Somali singer-songwriter, traditional dancer, and actor. I blend music, dance, and storytelling to celebrate Somali culture, bridging tradition and modern life. Through my art, I aim to honor our heritage and share it with the world.

Ladan Yusuf

"Hooyo Bishaaro"/Actor

Lily Cate Gunther-Canada

Acting Consultant

Maryan Yusuf

Writer, Producer
Maryan Yusuf is an emerging public historian and archaeologist with a focus on Near Eastern language systems, oral history, and cultural preservation. She brings years of experience in program and event direction, blending logistics with creativity to bring community-centered projects to life. Her work explores Somali heritage through traditional arts, storytelling, and contemporary expression, with a passion for making history accessible, engaging, and rooted in the voices of the people it represents.

Mohamed Noor

"Rooble"/Actor
I am an artist that specializes is Somali traditional dance. I’m 18 and am currently leaning more into other art forms that I’ve always loved but only started taking seriously this year. These include guitar, acting, and other forms of dance. I want people to feel inspired by all the things I do. I want people to see my dancing and say “I want to do that” or “how can I do that?” Ultimately I want to be able to put a performance on regardless of the kind of art I’m preforming, and to have people leave remembering certain small details about the show.

Muna Hussein

"Xaali"/Actor, Design Team, Costume Designer
Muna Hussein is a little girl living in a woman's body, growing with the art that surrounds her. In her college years, she is finding her way through anything and everything that inspires her, knowing that the experiences that color her life will help her transition to the person she aspires to become. She enjoys acting primarily, but is excited to show any art she is able to create to the world.

Nadira Hussein

"Saxarla"/Actor, Producer, Marketing Team
Nadira Hussein is a multidisciplinary Somali artist working at the intersection of cultural preservation, design, writing, and dance. Her work is deeply rooted in Somali traditional arts and shaped by a commitment to creating through thoughtful, intentional creation. With a strong eye for detail, Nadira approaches design as a form of storytelling. Whether she’s developing visual concepts, curating cultural programs, or building immersive event experiences, every element she crafts is purposeful. Her designs reflect a balance of aesthetic clarity and cultural depth, blending tradition with contemporary expression. Nadira’s background in movement and writing informs the flow of her work across all mediums. From stage to studio to screen, she creates spaces that hold both memory and imagination—spaces where beauty is not just visual but felt. Her practice reflects a deep respect for history, a focus on precision, and a belief that design can be both functional and emotionally resonant.

Nadwa Hussein

Producer, Director
Born and raised in the Twin Cities, I am, first and foremost, an appreciator of the arts. Growing up in such a visually rich community has, since youth, sparked a deep curiosity in viewing the world through a fantastical and poetic lens. Currently exploring visual storytelling as a student filmmaker, I focus primarily on directing and editing. When I’m not creating, I’m most likely watching everything from wonderfully bad films to ones capable of shifting the trajectory of life.

Sabrin Nur

Catalyst
Sabrin Nur is a multidisciplinary artist and scholar based in North Minneapolis since 2014. Originally from the Horn of Africa, Sabrin expresses themselves in Somali and Swahili, blending narratives of ancient mystics, nomads, and merchants with modern experiences of the African diaspora. Their work spans ceramic sculptures, performance art, film, poetry, and music, all aimed at fostering introspection. Drawing from their Somali and Yemeni heritage, Sabrin believes the answers to our future lie in the wisdom of our past. They seek to inspire liberation and reclaim lost knowledge, focusing on reviving traditions of passing down esoteric wisdom through various practices.

Salma Abikar

Social Media
Salma Abikar is a 24 year-old 35mm film photographer and aspiring filmmaker living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Born and raised in the Midwest, Salma bridges a deep understanding of the human mind she learned through her biopsychology degree with an authentic approach to visual storytelling utilizing her Somali roots. During the day, she works in the science field where she employs many of her analytic skills to the world around her. At night, she applies herself to analog photography and filmmaking, capturing the beauty she sees through her lens. Though an odd combination to some, Salma believes art and science are not mutually exclusive, but connected entities that enhance a deeper understanding of the world.

Sumeiya Abdi

"Friend 2"/Actor
Sumeiya Abdi is excited to make her stage debut in this production. She works in healthcare, and also has a passion for exploring her creativity through community-based projects and experiences. As a first-time actor, she is grateful for the opportunity to step into a new medium and looks forward to getting more involved in the arts in the coming future.

Wasima Farah

"Friend 1"/Actor, Design Team, Marketing Team
Wasima Farah is a Somali Visual Artist based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. She is a Graphic Designer and Creative Strategist at Soomaal House of Art, Creative Director at The Digital Sisterhood, Art Educator, and Actor. Her work varies from vibrant illustrations to videography centering Muslim Women and inspired by our everyday stories. Her goal is to create art that others can relate to and showcase genuine narratives.