Abdirahman Keinaan, a Finnish-born YouTube personality, has premiered a new docuseries titled “Keinaan, Go Back to Somalia” at the Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy. The project, co-produced by Keinaan’s production company Knaans and YLE Culture & Factual Content, was directed by Timo Korpi and Keinaan, with production by Pertti Neuvonen.
The docuseries addresses a recurring experience throughout Keinaan’s life—hearing directives to return to Somalia despite being born and raised in Finland. Rather than responding from anger, Keinaan decided to investigate Somalia firsthand, traveling there with cameraman Hamsa Hussein to explore his heritage and understand his cultural background. The title intentionally provokes viewers and generates discussion around the experiences of people caught between multiple cultural identities.
Keinaan began creating online content at age 16 and has been producing videos for eight years, shifting into documentary work two years ago. His usual focus involves traveling globally to document others’ stories, but this project required him to examine his own narrative for the first time. He acknowledged the difficulty of this personal transition, noting that discussing previously untouched aspects of his life felt overwhelming while still in production.
The filmmaker expressed satisfaction with the final product and plans to return to Somalia without cameras to deepen his personal connections. He emphasized that the docuseries presents perspectives on Somalia that challenge negative preconceptions, aiming to shift how audiences perceive the country. Keinaan noted the significance of the festival premiere, viewing it as validation that impactful storytelling transcends the distinction between traditional and digital media industries.
Keinaan reflected on becoming a role model for his audience and how direct personal connection with viewers has shifted his perspective. He stressed the broader relevance of his work, noting that many people worldwide experience the tension of living between two cultures and question where they truly belong. The series has potential for international distribution, addressing underexplored themes about cultural identity and belonging.
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