Somalia (Federal Republic of)

Saddexley takes its name from a Somali poetic form built on a triadic structure. Derived from saddex (three) and the collective suffix -ley / -lay, the term literally means “of threes”, pointing to a compositional logic in which meaning unfolds through repetition, variation, and balance.

Internationally recognised as the Nation of Poets, Somalia is rooted in a culture where word, poetry, and song are not separate disciplines but a living system of convergence. Poetrys function as Somalia’s social architecture, transmitting knowledge, and holding collective memory.

The Pavilion unfolds across the three floors of the venue, following a triadic rhythm that mirrors the internal structure of Saddexley. Poetic form is translated into spatial logic, transforming language into an immersive, multisensory experience articulated through scent, sound, and image. Visitors are first welcomed through the poetic and strong presence of Warsan Shire, then Asmaa Jama’s film and installation construct an audiovisual architecture where voices recombine into shifting landscapes of the self. The journey culminates with Ayan Farah’s textile works, dyed with soil and time, where material becomes stratification.