After 30 Dark Years, Somalia’s Silver Screen Lights Up

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<strong>Somalia which has been strife-ridden for years seems to be now taking a step in the direction of normalcy in terms of life, people and culture. On September 22 (Wednesday), the Africa’s eastern most nation hosted its first screening of a movie in three decades in Mogadishu, its Capital.</strong></p>
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The screening was done under heavy security and gives hope of cultural renewal in the conflict-ravaged country.</p>
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Incidentally, the National Theatre of Somalia was built by Chinese engineers as a gift from Mao Zedong in 1967. In a way the history of this cultural venue reflects the tumultuous journey of the Horn of Africa nation.</p>
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Ironically, the venue has been targeted by suicide bombers while also been used as a base by warlords. What it did not see in the last three decades is screening a Somali film.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/culture-news/hotel-rwanda-film-hero-convicted-of-terrorism-charges-116280.html">'Hotel Rwanda' film hero convicted of terrorism charges</a></strong></p>
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Well, this did finally happen on Wednesday.</p>
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On this momentous occasion, theatre director Abdikadir Abdi Yusuf remarked: "This is going to be a historic night for the Somali people, it shows how hopes have been revived… after so many years of challenges.”</p>
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Yusuf went on to add: "It's a platform that provides an opportunity to… Somali songwriters, storytellers, movie directors and actors to present their talent openly."</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/Somalia_National_Theatre.webp" style="width: 720px; height: 480px;" /></p>
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The evening programme schedule included screening of two short films. Both are helmed by Somali director IBrahim CM and they were "Hoos" and "Date from Hell".</p>
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The tickets were priced at $10 (8.50 euros) each.</p>
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<strong>Disruption of cultural activities</strong></p>
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Mogadishu boasted of several cinema halls in its heydays and the National Theatre was the venue for live concerts and plays, till 1991, when the civil war erupted. The open-air venue then became a military base for the warlords.</p>
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Reopened in 2012, Al-Shabaab jihadists blew it up two weeks later, as they viewed entertainment as evil. Now, after the painstaking restoration it has opened again.</p>
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<strong>Down Memory Lane</strong></p>
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The restoration and reopening of the theatre is a trip down memory lane for several Somalis. One among them, Osman Yusuf Osman told the news agency AFP: "I used to watch concerts, dramas, pop shows, folk dances and movies in the national theatre during the good old days. It makes me feel bad when I see Mogadishu lacking the nightlife it once had. But this is a good start… I will not miss this historic event tonight.”</p>
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Many were still concerned about safety. Hakimo Mohamed, now mother of six children remarked: "I was a school-age girl when my friends and I used to watch live concerts and dramas at the national theatre. People used to go out during the night and stay back late if they wished — but now, I don't think it is so safe," she told AFP.</p>
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Her argument seems to be valid considering that even though the jihadists have been driven out of Mogadishu a decade ago, they still retain control of swathes of countryside and continue to stage deadly attacks in the Capital and elsewhere.</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/culture-news/little-amal-a-giant-puppet-walks-across-europe-to-help-syrian-refugees-115242.html">‘Little Amal’ – a giant puppet – walks across Europe to help Syrian refugees</a></strong></p>
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Those attending the shows were made to pass through several security checkpoints before arriving at the theatre, which is inside a heavily guarded complex that includes the Presidential Palace and the Parliament.</p>
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The threats and the inconvenience due to security did not hamper the enthusiasm of many who were eager to see a film in a cinema hall after ages.</p>
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Abdullahi Adan speaking to AFP said: "I was not lucky to watch live concerts and or movies in the theatre (earlier)… because I was still a child, but I can imagine how beautiful it was. I want to experience this for the first time and see what it's like to watch a movie with hundreds of people in a theatre."</p>