Somali Soundwaves is the first volume compiling a series of blogs and interviews, published by UNDP Somalia in 2024 and first half of 2025. 

“Aqoontu waa iftiin la hubo, ogaalna waa la wada dhaxlaa.” 
“Knowledge is a light one can trust, and understanding is something we inherit together.” 

These lines form Somalia’s celebrated poet, Hadraawi, remind us of the unique philosophy that has long nurtured the Somali culture of sharing knowledge: that knowledge is not owned – it is inherited, shared, and passed on. Grounded on this thinking, one and a half years ago, UNDP Somalia launched the Somalia Blog Series and The Spotlight (a column for interviews) as an effort to open new spaces for reflection, dialogue, knowledge sharing and storytelling. This book as a compilation of perspective, is a signal of UNDP’s commitment to transparency, knowledge management, local ownership, and shared learning. In the coming months, UNDP Somalia will continue to feature new voices, tackle emerging themes, and deepen the conversation. We thank all our contributors, readers, and critics.