The Untold Story of the Aar Maanta Visa Issue and the Midnimo Program Cancellation

Midnimo, which means “unity” in Somali, is a multi-partner project anchored with the Cedar Cultural Center that was bringing world renowned Aar Maanta to the area to provide opportunities for the communities of Mankato, Minneapolis, and, what would have been this week, St. Cloud to come together for a deeper understanding of Somali culture within the larger American environment. The events of the program were cancelled, however, after Aar Maanta’s visa was never returned after being approved, and now the community is simply left to wonder about what happened, what’s being missed out on, and what the future holds for these and other programs that rely upon functioning governmental processes in order to operate. Today’s installment of the Untold Stories of Central Minnesota is aptly titled “The Week That Wasn’t” as Arts & Cultural Heritage Producer Jeff Carmack talks with Jane Oxton from Paramount Arts, Experiential Learning and Outreach Director from St. Cloud State University Dan Huwe, and Amhed Abdi from St. Cloud’s Somali Radio about the effects of the cancelation of this week’s Midnimo residency and performances by Somali musician Aar Maanta.