Shaax iyo Sheeko: Mapping Memory

Join us for a screening of short film, 'A Story Left Behind' which pieces together the fragmented stories of the first documented Somali woman in Sheffield.

The film will be followed by a tea ceremony rooted in Somali culture and discussion (Shaax iyo Sheeko) mapping together the city's archives, community memory, and intergenerational exchange, to ask an important question: What kind of city do we want to leave behind for our daughters?

Somali language support available.
This event is part of Common Threads Festival, a weaving and arts festival happening in Sheffield city centre from 9 - 12 September 2026 and produced by The Bare Project.

Ticket Info: Common Threads Festival activities are offered for free to ensure everyone can access this project. However, if you are able, please book a £5 ticket so that the free tickets are allocated to those who need them.

If you would like to add a donation to The Bare Project, please add a 'donation' to your order. This allows us to provide free tickets for our community partners and those who otherwise would not be able to access our events.

About the Artist

Asma Kabadeh (she/her) is a Creative Producer and Filmmaker whose work bridges creative storytelling with community spacemaking in service of racial justice, land justice and archival justice. She currently holds the roles of Soma Sessions Co-Curator at Peaks of Colour, and is Creative Producer at Brightbox.

Asma is touring her directorial debut with ‘Sheeko Laga Tagay / A Story Left Behind’, a film which uncovers the fragmented stories of the first documented Somali woman in Sheffield and invites audiences to critically examine archival representations for Somali & wider diasporic communities and challenge the dominance of public records as the sole source of history in a roaming workshop setting.

Access

This is a seated event where the audience can sit and listen and watch the film and then the tea ceremony.

• Common Threads Festival happens at the bottom of The Moor, near the Moorfoot building in Sheffield city centre.
• The festival happens outside so please dress for the weather. In severe weather conditions we will move inside the Aafly building at 108 The Moor.
• The street has paving and step free access.
• The installation has a small raised stage with ramp access surrounded by tall looms to weave onto.
• There will be some seating available at all workshops and performances.
• The nearest public toilets are in The Moor Market (approx 300 meters away).
• There will be a prayer space available on site.

For further information about Access or How to Find Us see our Access Page on The Bare Project website.

About Common Threads

is an international weaving project which invites women and marginalised genders to take up space in Sheffield city centre. It has been created by The Bare Project in collaboration with the Higsad Alool Weavers, Re-Water; SunRit Culture Group; the Manor Weavers & other textile groups from across Sheffield.

is a theatre and interactive arts organisation based in Sheffield who work both locally and internationally. The Bare Project create ambitious and galvanising artistic experiences for audiences, rooted in big ideas and in-depth research. They often co-create these experiences with communities of place or shared characteristics.

Common Threads Festival has been made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players we are able to offer all activities with no or low cost. The festival is also supported with funding from Heritage Crafts UK and Sheffield Council.