Lewiston welcomes ‘King of Somali Hip Hop’ with boisterous celebration

Midnimo Celebration Brings Somali Music, Dance, and Civic Engagement to Lewiston

LEWISTON — Hundreds of people filled the Agora Palace Event Center on Friday night for Midnimo, a celebration of Somali culture built around music, dance, and community.

Midnimo means unity, solidarity, or peace in Somali, and organizers designed the evening to bring those ideas to life. Somali hip-hop artists Ilkacase Qeys, widely known as the King of Somali Hip Hop, and Dalmar Yare served as the headliners, performing for a crowd that danced through the night and captured moments on their phones.

The event was hosted by the Community Organizing Alliance and Coffee By Design, with support from local community partners. Mohamed Khalid, an event organizer, said the celebration was intended to do more than entertain.

“We had voter registration cards and voter commitment opportunities available to encourage civic participation, particularly among young people and immigrant families who may face barriers to accessing information and engaging in the civic process,” Khalid said.

He described nonpartisan civic engagement as a core part of the alliance’s work, and said the broader goal was to build relationships, empower people, and ensure their voices are heard in decisions affecting their communities.

For attendees, the night offered a blend of cultural celebration and practical outreach, rooted in the idea that belonging and civic participation go hand in hand.