At the entrance door of the Vaxjo Kulturparken, Sweden, I met with a strange friend: A lantern (Feynuus in Somali).I knew lanterns back home especially in the small hut in which I was born 56 years ago. The kultur natt has offered fascinating exhibitions, shows and cultural events inside the kulturparken but never have I felt as much excited as the moment I saw the lantern just outside the museum. I knelt down to greet it amid biting snow winds which have been wafting across the pathway leading to the museum. I nearly kissed it had it not been my daughter Maria who has alerted me " Daddy, it is fire". On 29 january, the whole city of Vaxjo has burst into colourful events to observe the kultur natt and I am happy that I have found at least one item which had sparked a flame of pleasant childhood memories and to which I could reconnect to my past. Holding a piece of a cultural item is as much important as reclaiming your own identity in a situation where you have no national documents with which you can identify yourself. As Somalis in Sweden we are considered as people whose national identity cannot be established due to lack of documents issued by a recognized government. Therefore I decided to use Feynus as my identity document until such time a recognized government is set up in Somalia. Lastly I wish to thank the chief of the Kulturparken, Erica Månsson, the Kultur natt organizers, Håkan Nordmark, Alexandra and the entire staff and management of the museum. I dedicate my poem to the Kulturparken where I currently work as a project leader on migration memories. If you are an immigrant who has a story to share, please send it to me. My e-mail is nuuru2003.hotmail.com Photo by my daughter Maria, 8 years old.

Kultur natt is my night
It is a night of culture
Night of fun and parties
Night of songs and music
Night of peace and love

It is a night of the nights
A night that soothes the heart
connects the present to the past
As one feels linked to the future