Inner Calm, Outer Connection

Inner Calm, Outer Connection: Moments in Mogadishu is an exhibition featuring the works of eight female photographers based in Mogadishu. The title reflects the themes the photographers were exploring, which was to document spaces, places and people close to their hearts. The result is incredibly moving and personal photographs that illuminate each photographer’s subject matter. Their keen and candid eyes have captured spaces and moments in Mogadishu, which feel entirely unique to them.

Casriye / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

Meet the Photographers

Yusra Dahir Mohamud,

Theme: The Sea

Yusra likes the sea very much. She feels one is able to experience different kind of living or work on the beach. Life seems different there, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Is a place she often goes to, sits on the beach and observes the different activities, as they unfold on beach and in the sea.

Untitled / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

Aisha Hassan Zubair,

Theme: Everyday Mogadishu (Diversity in people and urban life in Mogadishu)

Aisha’s subject matter was the diversity of her hometown Mogadishu. She loves how cosmopolitan her city is and how diverse the people who live in it are. She wanted to document some of the diverse people she comes across in her neighbourhood, particularly, the people she greets everyday to and from her house.

piercing eyes / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

A ray of hope / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

Journey / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

Hafsa Abshir Mohamed,

Theme: Casiriye (Hanging Out in the Afternoon)

Hafsa wanted to capture close female friendship in intimate settings – women in their own spaces. She wanted to document some of the customs and practices of women spending time together, away from the world, in their own way.

Zahra Abdullahi Nur,

Theme: Nostalgia

Zahra is inspired by the past, by a time when, as she says, “life was easier, or at least people had more freedom”. For that reason, Zahra choose the oldest district in Mogadishu, Hamar Weyne, as her location. She wanted to give a glimpse into how “we used to live”.

Hinda Hussein Ahmed,

Theme: Blissful Solitude on the Beach

Hinda’s favourite place in the whole world is the beach. Whenever she has something on her mind, she usually goes and sits on the beach and watches the water go by. She finds comfort in the calmness of the beach. She wanted to explore that bliss she feels on the beach, usually on her own. Even when she goes with friends, she will sit away from them and take it all on by herself.

Lady In Pink / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

Casriye / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

Young girl / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

Lady In Pink / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

Schoo polizia / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

Untitled / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

Saida Mohamed Ahmed,

Theme: Refuge

Saida wanted to capture her favourite place, where she seeks refuge whenever she needs to time for herself. This area near School Polisia in Mogadishu, is a small sandy enclave surround by rocks on the beach. Saida likes the calmness and quiet between the rocks and the shelter they provide.

Dunes / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

Haajira Hussein Warsame,

Theme: Inner Peace

Haajira takes photographs to make memories. She also has great appreciation for architecture, in particular, places that hold significant cultural heritage value. For her individual project, she wanted to explore the remains of the old Roman Catholic cathedral in Mogadishu, through the lens of ‘calm, inner peace and solitude’. She considers the cathedral’s architecture beautiful and its uniqueness, fascinating.

Reaching / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

Confident / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022

Hani Mohamed Abdi

Theme: Our Heritage

Hani is very much inspired by Somali cultural heritage. She likes the clothes and finds them very beautiful, but more importantly, she fears that people in Somalia have forgotten their customs. She wanted to centre her individual project on showcasing the beauty of Somali traditional attire and how proud and regal they make the wearer feel and look.

Uunsi / Mogadishu, Somalia 2022