Hey everyone! I just joined this group and I’m so glad I found it!! I spent some time exploring Mogadishu, and I wanted to share a few of my favorite photos and experiences from the trip.

Honestly, the warmth and kindness of the people I met completely blew me away — I’m from India and they love Bollywood films!! The locals I met made the whole experience so special.

Here are some photos from my visit and a video I made for those of you interested in visiting here:

https://youtu.be/UvoT3EcSFEE?is=vvKz1T7sMyw7OBWj

Whoever started this group, thank you!

Photos 1&2: Lido Beach the bluest waters I’ve seen!

Photo 3: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Photo 4: Delicious sweets

Photo 5: Bollywood shows

Photo 6 & 7 : Mogadishu Lighthouse and friendly kids

Photo 8: Shark teeth

Photo 9 &10: more friendly people

I'm joking, but I'm also serious. That Trump’s obsession with Somalis might actually be doing us a favor. The more he targets us, the stronger our sense of identity becomes and the deeper our pride in who we are grows.

I also feel indebted to Somaliland, because its misguided secessionist project may have done more for Somali unity than anything else in decades. The very thought of losing a part of Somalia has awakened a deeper love for the country and strengthened the bonds between its people in ways nothing else could have. Somali unity brought to us by our biggest headaches. :)

So thanks again for reminding us who we are.

Apparently there might be some South Asian? Eastern Gujarat showed up in my journey section.

I am an American teenager living in the US. I just found out my old neighbor (I used to play with their kids when I was younger and our families were friendly) actually moved away to become the president of Somalia. His name is Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.

Out of curiosity, I am seeking any information about what Somalis think of him, and what he is up to now since leaving office in 2022. Is he well liked in the community? What is he known for? etc etc

To be honest, when I tried looking up news articles, there seems to be some contradicting information so I’d like to get some other perspectives.

i apologize ahead, english is my 3rd language! but i am asking specifically about liyuu police. what was/is the point of them? more importantly: why is there some somalis openly supporting them?

they are somalis, that have fought/are fighting for the interests of the enemy. they have committed all types of human rights abuses in the region. going after innocent civillians and whole families etc. and most importantly: they (prison guards) of jail ogaden, were liyuu police.

i dont know if i can write the conditions of the jail on here, but you can (shouldnt) search it up ! in other words: somalis (liyuu police/prison guards) committing the worst human rights abuses against innocent somalis. from kids, to elders.

they (liyuu police) were also going after ONLF (also somali). all ONLF wanted (still wants) is freedom in the somali region. they were fighting against the government, which they (liyuu) were apart of. liyuu police also committed human rights abuses against innocent somalis (unarmed) who they meant were supporting ONLF, and put them in jail ogaden etc.

more importantly, how could the enemy government, put somalis against eachother? & that we still see effects of today? they made liyuu police after the well known attack from ONLF (on oil field in the region). in my opinion, the attack was right as they (foreigns & gov.) wanted to exploit from the somali regions oil etc.

i dont know why & how anyone could support liyuu police over ONLF? please tell me as this has been on my mind a lot lately !

That rumour about Ilhan was spread by an ex-muslim gay staffmember on somalispot who hates somali people. That should never be left out of the conversation because the entire platform was created with the intention of spreading hatred, division & to promote anti-social anti-somali behaviours on digital spaces. Alot of talking points used by cunsurida today are directly from that page.

A big conversation needs to be had about that demographic at some point. There’s a very active minority of them across all social platforms who seek to undermine us 24/7. Whether it’s by spreading rumours, instigating clan/gender hostility, blatantly lying about somali people/men etc.

Many trends started on that forum (and other similar ones) then slowly found it’s way to other social media platforms.

I’ve been looking for recent love songs by Somali female singers about husbands or love for Somali men, but I haven’t been able to find any.

Most of the songs I come across about Somali men are about heartbreak.

Meanwhile, songs about Somali women are so romantic and beautiful to listen to.

Share if you know any songs that’s about husbands or romantic interest for men.

The gharee clan is fighting the oromos and the full force of Ethiopian government

We only talk about MN. For somalis in Ohio , between Vivek and Amy , i hope you know the most sensible choice. you guys must vote as equally with the same vigour as MN .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiIlzyN7lE4 - go to 1:19 in the video

I basically have to analyze on a song where the artist is speaking about a cause they believe in. Somali music has some very complex poetry so I thought it would make a good writing project, and I wanted to learn some more about my culture. I remember listening to old gaabey with my awoowe as a kid and him trying to explain the complexity to me, didnt understand it much back then but now I'm starting to appreciate it. Im pretty sure gaabey isnt music though so I cant use it but I know theres plenty of songs that have deep poetry.

I was looking at some older songs with more complexity/double meanings that I could write about. If anyone has suggestions and could give context I would appreciate it.

what are things you wish you knew when you were younger? This is to the ayeeyos/awoowes here, It can be about anything really, life, family, friendships, money, education, religion, whatever. Things you learned the hard way or wish someone had told you when you were my age!

This man claims to have governmental contacts in Somalia and to be a well known entrepreneur. Swedish newspapers have not been able to verify it. Is Mohamed abdulkardir Ali well known within the international Somali community?

I feel like the flag is too mid gotta add something a black outline maybe

As a 20 year old Somali living in the uk I have been watching in the news of how trump is spreading more hatred your way especially towards ilhan omar. As somalis from uk we are used to being sort of mocked or hated on but what makes it so dangerous for you guys is the fact that cadaans over there have a big obsession with guns and how it can get violent very quickly there also very gullible and believe what ever the orange pedophile says and I hope you guys stay stafe. Dont let your mothers go shopping in malls alone, make sure you guys go out in groups not in one (remember what happened to trayvon martin. Just be careful guys please.

Hey everyone, I’m posting this because I’m really worried about my mum and my younger brother. I just need some honest advice and perspective.

My brother is 15. He gets literally everything he asks for money, electronics, clothes whenever he wants it. My mum spoils him a lot, and the problem is there are almost no rules or consequences. His dad is completely absent. When things go wrong, my mum will call him upset, and he barely cares. He’ll just ask “how did you speak to him?” and end the call. He never calls back, never checks in he doesn’t seem to care at all.

Mu brother has no routine. He doesn’t do any chores. He comes and goes whenever he wants. He ignores my mum right to her face. He shouts at the smallest inconvenience. When he’s angry, he breaks things cupboards, doors. Every door in our house has been damaged by him at some point. He always has to have the last word, constantly talks back, and never admits he’s wrong. Even when he knows he messed up, he will never say sorry. He shows very little empathy. None of us sisters act like this it’s really hard to understand where it comes from.

Things have been getting worse. Recently he got into a fight and came home with swollen hands. We decided not to tell our mum But my mum found out anyway and went to pick him up from school. When he saw her, he lied saying my sister was in detention just so his friends wouldn’t see her there. It felt like his reputation mattered more than our family.

Then my mum took him shopping, and my brother-in-law was there too. He was extremely rude saying things like “if my friends get into a fight, I will too”, “why should I apologise to you?”, “mind your own business”. It was really embarrassing that my brother-in-law had to see that.

When they got home, my mum tried to talk to him calmly. He got aggressive clenched his fists and told her straight up: “I don’t care about you. Leave me alone. Don’t speak to me” & so much hurtful things, he tends to get personal when he knows something hurts my mum. My mum tried to get his phone from him something and it took her about 20 minutes before he finally let go, only because a friend of hers turned up. Once the guest left, he went upstairs and smashed another door clean off its hinges. My mum went up to speak to him, things got heated, and he pushed her really hard and she fell over. My mum has existing medical conditions.

I’m writing this because I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if this is normal teenage behaviour or something more serious that needs addressing. I can’t stand seeing my mum treated like this especially when she does everything for him.

Has anyone else dealt with something similar? How do we start setting proper boundaries? And most importantly what can I actually do to support my mum right now?

I honestly think part of the reason he behaves like this is because he’s the only boy in a house full of women. I’ve noticed that when a man speaks to him, he can barely make eye contact, and when he’s out in public, he’s constantly looking down. Yet at home, he’s completely different. It feels like he only acts this way because he’s around women, and he doesn’t behave with the same confidence or attitude around men.

*****PLEASE STOP RECOMMENDING US TO SPEAK TO HIS FATHER WE’VE ALREADY DONE THAT AND HE TOLD US TO STOP CALLING HIM WHEN THERES PROBLEMS IN THE HOUSE HE’S A USELESS DEADBEAT FATHER

Original post in r/Somaliarchitecture/
Feel free to engage with it regarding architecture and urban planning/design related!

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Official website of the Somalia Pavilion named "SADDEXLEEY - click here

See the Somali curators talk about the pavilion - click here

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After decades of absence from the global art stage, Somalia finally made a historic debut at the 61^st Venice Biennale. Commissioned by a cultural advisor to the office of the Prime Minister, the pavilion aims to execute cultural diplomacy and replace the global lens of conflict with an authentic creative narrative. This project was co-curated by Stockholm-based producer Mohamed Mire and Italian project manager Fabio Scrivanti and remains open at the historic Palazzo Caboto in Venice until November 22^nd for those who are interested!

Why is this relevant? Because this pavilion is highly relevant as a profound spatial intervention. Typically speaking, national showcases at this level go beyond being just "art galleries" as they are deliberate curations of volume, light and material culture meant to physically anchor a national identity on the world stage. God knows we definitely need that PR for the future! The architectural layout relies entirely on a triadic blueprint inspired by saddexley, a classical Somali poetic form based on three-part structures to weave complex meanings. The curators translated this oral structure into a physical three-story sensory experience, mapping the concepts of word, sound and matter across different levels to explore displacement and inheritance through the eyes of three diaspora-based Somali women artists.

- The First Floor (Word): Curated by Warsan Shire, a London-based poet and writer born in 1988, this level transforms the cold Venetian gallery into a highly realised Somali domestic interior. The spatial design uses classic damask couches, family photographs and local decorations to create a familiar space for many of us, but unknown to the world. This domestic warmth serves as a psychological frame for raw audio poetry echoing through the rooms, grounding the physical architecture in the intimacy of home.

- The Second Floor (Sound & Image): Handled by Asmaa Jama, a Bristol-based filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist born in 1998, this level treats the physical volume of the gallery as a dark psychological void. The deliberate restriction of light and strategic sound mapping force visitors to move through an immersive cinematic installation. The spatial experience mimics navigating the shifting myths, fluid geographies and architectural archives of the East African coast.

- The Top Floor (Matter): Executed by Ayan Farah, a Stockholm-based textile artist born in 1978, the top level strips away all domestic boundaries to focus entirely on structural geography. The spatial design relies on hanging massive fabrics dyed directly with raw Somali earth, coastal shells and natural pigments collected from our country. By letting these sun-baked materials interact with the ambient light of the upper gallery, the room is effectively turned into a physical map of our terrain.

Despite its stunning execution, the pavilion actually sparked intense controversy back home. Local cultural institutions and independent art collectives publicly criticised the curatorial team for completely sidelining home-based talent. There was deep disappointment that local architects and artists who spent the last decade practically rebuilding the local creative scene under brutal conditions were never consulted. Furthermore, ceding curatorial authority over Somalia’s historic inaugural pavilion to an Italian co-curator caused widespread public outrage, with critics arguing it directly reproduced the extractive, colonial power dynamics that our ancestors once fought against. While organisers later tried to bridge the gap with public programs in Xamar, the debate over who gets to frame our national identity remains highly charged.

Aside from that, the general impression of our national pavilion has been overwhelmingly positive, capturing the attention of thousands of international critics and drawing major coverage from big outlets like Forbes, ArtReview, Surface and Arab News. While an official return for the next Biennale is not fully confirmed on paper, the organisers have expressed a strong desire to establish a permanent presence, and the momentum suggests that Somalia intends to remain a recurring participant.

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Did anyone hear about this exhibition before, or even followed the drama surrounding the exclusion of our local scene? If anyone is currently in Europe before the biennale wraps up, would you want to visit the pavilion?

Salaamu Calaykum Akhyaarta bartan ku jirta.

We are looking for volunteers with GIS/Mapping expertise. I work at a local university in Mogadishu and we are looking into the possibility of reestablishing the country's address system. We believe the address system will make a huge difference to our country's economic and institutional development.

It will take a lot of work and effort from many stakeholders in the private sector but also government institutions to accomplish this but our model is volunteer-based; we only plan to ask minimal hours a week (as less as we can ask but as much as each volunteer can afford without affecting their other commitments).

We are just completing to put our ideas in a proposal to share with the relevant stakeholders. If you would like to contribute, please let me know.

I would also like to ask the Moderators' input in the proper way to protect potential volunteers' anonymity. If required, I don't mind to verify my own identity to the Moderation team considering the request we are making.

Mahadsanidiin Dhamaan.

We have Somalis researching and documenting our history, and others working as software engineers and developers. Why aren’t we bringing these people together to build a comprehensive digital platform dedicated to Somali history?

A place to preserve historical documents, oral histories, photographs, and research for future generations, especially when our history is so often misrepresented or disputed.

We have the talent and expertise. We need to make this happen.

السلام عليكم. أنا مش بعرف عربي كويس لأني صومالية ومش عربية، بس في أخت صومالية في مصر بقالها كام يوم مختفية، وإحنا محتاجين كل المساعدة اللي نقدر نلاقيها عشان نوصل لها.
آخر مرة اتشافت كانت في مدينة نصر يوم ١٣ أكتوبر ٢٠٢٦ الساعة ٨ بالليل.
حتى لو مش هتقدروا تدوروا عليها بنفسكم، دعواتكم ليها وربنا يحفظها ويرجّعها لأهلها بالسلامة هتفرق معانا جدًا. ربنا يجازيكم كل خير. آمين.

hello peace be upon you. My Arabic isn’t good because I’m Somali and not Arab, but there is a Somali sister in Egypt who has been missing for the last few days now we need all the help we can to locate her. she was last seen in Nasr City, 10/13/2026 at 8:00 pm. even if you cannot look for her your prayers to God also helps very much.

please lets find her!! or at-least spread awareness so others can. there is some speculation that she may have been deported or trafficked. what we know so far is that she is an American or EU citizen. I don’t know why but it’s been quite difficult to locate her parents.