What happens when the eldest daughter in a Somali household decides to leave home for the first time?

That question takes center stage this weekend at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, where a new play featuring an all-Somali cast explores family and identity. Meanwhile, Open Streets returns to northeast Minneapolis for a day of music and community celebration, and two new exhibits in St. Paul spotlight the experiences of Southeast Asian artists. 

Somali artists explore what it means to leave home

Cornucopia Productions — a Somali artist collective founded by writer and director Abdimalik Ahmed — will debut “Your Hello to My Goodbye” at Mixed Blood Theatre as part of this year’s Minnesota Fringe Festival. 

The production company launched in 2023, when Ahmed performed his solo show  “The Place I Return To” at the Fringe. The name Cornucopia, he said, symbolizes “the Horn of Africa and a cornucopia is a horn of plenty.”

What began as a solo endeavor evolved into a creative hub of 20 volunteer Somali theatermakers, many of whom contributed personal experiences to tell a story rooted in the tension between tradition and self-discovery. 

“We caught Fringe at the very end of the application cycle, so the script wasn’t completely done by the time we started rehearsals,” Ahmed said. “Seeing it be performed on stage by the actors, some lines just completely didn’t come out the way we expected them to and other lines we didn’t think much about became signature lines because of the way they were delivered by the actors.” 

Set over the course of a single night, the play follows Saxarla (played by Nadira Hussein) as she prepares to leave Minnesota for New York — a decision that shakes the family order. 

“Saxarla has been the drumbeat that her whole family has been marching to,” said co-writer Sabrin Nur. “You would think a lot of the responsibility would fall on the oldest son but women are the backbone that holds everybody together and at the same time, you’re expected to shrink yourself. You’re expected to martyr yourself and Saxarla is at a point where she’s like, ‘I need to start prioritizing myself.’”

The play’s ensemble cast features Xaali (Muna Hussein), Rooble (Mohamed Nur), and Ali (Khalid Dahir) — siblings who must confront their dependence on Saxarla and navigate their own identities. Their single mother, Hooyo Bishaaro (Ladan Yusuf), represents both emotional strength and generational hardship, as she struggles to accept her daughter’s decision to leave. 

Nur said they drew inspiration from their own mother in developing the character of Bishaaro. 

“She has such a big heart and she’s so loving and generous, but she also has a tough side to her,” Nur said. “A lot of our elders didn’t really get the opportunity, language or therapy to reflect on what they’ve gone through.” 

The play also explores the tension between Somali collectivism and American individualism. 

“The fact that this is a Somali family based in Minnesota — there’s already a clash of ideals,” said co-writer Maryan Yusuf. “Somali culture is very consuming in the best way possible which means you’ll find barriers when trying to participate in the Western aspect of things.” 

Nur, who grew up in Kenya before moving to the U.S., recalls writing short stories as a teenager to process their bicultural identity. 

“I was still trying to make sense of the collectivist community that I come from and the very individualistic nature of American life,” they said. “There’s a lot of things that I aspire to from the American way of being but so much I want to hold onto from my Somali culture.”

“I want people to leave [“Your Hello to My Goodbye”] inspired,” Nur added. “I hope we get to see so many more Somali plays by the diaspora after this because it’s part of our heritage.”

Other must-see Fringe shows include a musical set in 12th century Angkor, Cambodia, a play rooted in Colombian folklore, a queer romantic drama and a comedic memoir about Black hair.

Live music, wrestling and street food at Open Streets

Open Streets kicks off Saturday in northeast Minneapolis, transforming Central Avenue into a car-free community festival where you can walk, skate and bike freely. 

Hosted by the Audubon Neighborhood Association, the event features two stages of live music from local acts like Obi Original and the Black Atlantics, plus live wrestling matches, skateboarding demos, a beer garden, a resource fair, and a community chalk walk outside the Northeast Library — with a chance to win cash prizes (Register here). 

Local restaurants and vendors will serve up Mexican, Thai and Asian cuisine, along with treats from nearby coffee shops, bakeries and markets.

Burmese artist turns displacement into art

“Fires,” a solo show by Iowa-based Burmese artist Saw Naing Lin, opens Saturday at Xia Gallery & Cafe. The exhibit serves as a visual memoir of Lin’s childhood in eastern Myanmar’s Karenni State, where decades of civil war and ethnic cleansing forced widespread displacement. Through his paintings, Lin captures moments of peace alongside scenes of violence and survival. The opening reception runs from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2.

Also on view at Xia Gallery is an exhibit honoring Lao American Artists Heritage Month, a state-recognized celebration of Lao Minnesotans’ cultural contributions. The show spotlights the work of Somchay Souvankham, a sculptor and painter who depicts Buddhist iconography, Lao landscapes and everyday life. The opening reception takes place 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3.

Correction: Sabrin Nur’s pronouns have been updated in this story.

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