Mogadishu, (SONNA) – The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E. Abdifatah Qasim Mahmoud, today launched the rehabilitation and maintenance of the Radio Mogadishu Archive as part of efforts to accelerate the preservation and modernization of Somalia’s historic audio heritage.
The Minister was accompanied by the Deputy Minister, the Director General of the Ministry, the Director of Radio Mogadishu, and other officials who toured various sections of the archive and inspected the refurbished machines used to power and process historical audio tapes.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Radio Mogadishu, Abdifatah Dahir Jayte, outlined the stages of the archive’s rehabilitation and modernization process. He expressed hope that the initiative would mark the beginning of the most comprehensive modernization of the Radio Mogadishu Archive, noting the Ministry’s commitment to converting the archive into a digital format.
The Minister described the rehabilitation and modernization work as an important first step in a broader effort to modernize the Radio Mogadishu Archive, safeguard its contents, and preserve thousands of tapes containing Somalia’s history, culture, and national memory.
He also commended Radio Mogadishu staff and archive personnel for their dedication and encouraged them to intensify efforts to accelerate the digitization of archival tapes so that future generations can benefit from this national heritage.
The Minister expressed gratitude to UNESCO and the Government of Japan’s JFIT Programme, which supports the Memory of the World Programme, for assisting with the assessment of the Radio Mogadishu Archive and the rehabilitation of archive machinery and equipment.
While noting that the refurbished machines represent a positive beginning, the Minister stressed that they remain insufficient to address the vast number of historical tapes held in the archive. He called on the Somali public, UNESCO, and other international partners to support the Ministry’s efforts to improve access to archival materials and accelerate the digitization of long-preserved tapes that are at risk of deterioration and loss.
The Radio Mogadishu Archive is the largest repository of Somalia’s recorded history, preserving materials dating back to 1951. The Ministry continues to advance efforts to modernize and digitize its extensive collection of archival recordings.
