‘Through My Lens’

“Through My Lens” is a contemporary photography exhibition featuring the work of eight budding female photographers based in Mogadishu, Somalia. This exhibition is a preview to a larger physical exhibition, which will be launched in Mogadishu early 2022. 

This online exhibition is part of a larger initiative supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) which combines photography, filmmaking and poetry to create powerful narratives around issues important to the 15 young women who took part. The project was primarily concerned with supporting women to express themselves through training on photography and filmmaking and guidance on how to identify and tell powerful stories..

As artists know, any creative endeavour must be anchored around issues personal in nature. Similarly in this project, the young women each had to choose a theme close to their heart to explore through their chosen medium. This made for an immersive experience filled with care and consideration. As a result, the work produced under this project is evocative, intimate and powerful.

We are incredibly proud of the young women and their work and we are equally excited to follow their creative journeys in the years to come. For now, we invite you to view these images considering the context in which they were produced.  

For Deka Ali Hashi, a recent graduate in computer science, that context was education. Deqa is very passionate about girls and young women getting an education. Having taught in schools since graduating, Deka decided to focus on young women in education as her theme. 

Falastin Khalif Yuusuf, a multitalented creative, works as a journalist and poet, while at the same time studying. She is very much fascinated by small-scale female entrepreneurs, who start very small and gradually grow. She decided to explore this sector through photography. 

Hafsa Jaamac Shire, a law student, but also a political aspirant, was inspired by women in politics. With a sister and an aunt who are Members of Parliament, she looked at the women immediately around her

Dr Negad Mohamoud Abdirahman is a working General Practitioner. As a qualified doctor, Negad has serious concerns about the dangers of the beauty industry, namely skin bleaching. She investigates this creatively through photography, even creating labels which read “Khatar” (Danger) to highlight the dark side of the cosmetics industry. 

Nuura Mohamoud Abdirahman, a Gender Officer at a local Civil Society Organisation, is a talented creative with a keen eye for the subtle details in everyday life. Nura’s subject matter is one which many of us have been concerned about during these times of uncertainty: human connection. Nuura chose to explore this through female friendship.

Then we have Maryam Ahmed Warsame, who is a current university student in Information Technology. Maryan is fascinated by women who have access to platforms to amplify their voices and concerns to their communities. Her subject matter was then naturally female journalists in Somalia. 

Safio Mohamed Warsame, our youngest in the group, has recently graduated with a degree in public health. As might be expected, Safio is critical of early child marriage. She explored this by imagining the feelings a girl child might have just after being told she is to marry. 

Finally, we have Sagal Ibrahim, who recently graduated with a degree in nursing. Sagal has a great sense of empathy for her fellow humans. She wanted to learn photography skills so that she could tell stories that usually do not get much attention. Sagal developed a theme she coined “women in survival mode”, looking at women who work on market stalls to earn their daily bread. 

We hope that you will enjoy this preview exhibition as much as we have enjoyed working on it alongside our photographers. We cannot wait to unveil the larger physical exhibition early next year, which will also include the short films by our filmmakers (Amal Mohamed Aweis, Fatima Said Abshir, Najma Muse Abdi and Zaima Abdi Ali) as well as poetry by our poets (Bishaaro Khaliif Warsame, Falastiin Khaliif Yuusuf, Bishaaro Khaliif Warsame and Ikraan Daahir).

Sagal Ali, Executive Director of SAF

Meet the Photographers

Deka Ali Hashi,
These photographs by Deqa capture young Somali women in education. Deqa managed to capture secondary school students at Al Ma’mun school in Mogadishu’s Hodan district. The theme Deqa is exploring in these photographs is young women in education.

Besties: A secondary school I / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

A young woman practicing henna art I / at a salon in Hodan District / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

A young woman practicing henna art I / at a salon in Hodan District / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

Hafsa Jaamac Shire

Hafsa aspires to one day hold a leadership role in Somalia. She is inspired by women in politics, particularly those close to her. She turned the lens towards her sister and aunt, both Members of Parliament, while in everyday settings, rather than formal work settings.

Hayaat Abdrihman Dalla’aan / Member of Parliament / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

Amal Xasan Shire Member of Parliament I / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

Maryam Ahmed Warsame

Maryam is a fan of vintage 1960s to 1980s photographs of Somali women in male dominated sectors, such as the army and aviation. Maryan decided to look at women in media, particularly, female journalists. She recognises that the media landscape in Somalia is heavily male dominated and she wanted to give a nod to the women occupying these spaces.

Falastin Khalif Yuusuf

Falastiin was very keen to explore women entrepreneurs with independent start – ups. In these photographs taken in a Mogadishu women’s salon, she captures women practicing henna designs and ideas. The salon where these photographs were taken is also a training centre for women wanting to learn and gain certification in the craft of henna application.

Journalist Maryam at Rajo Studio / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

Journalist Maryam being interviewed by Falastin at Rajo Studio / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

Negad Mohamoud Abdirahman

These photographs were taken by Negad in her house. They feature a young woman who is applying skin whitening cream in her bedroom. Negad wanted to explore beauty standards in Somalia and the perils of skin whitening in a social media age.

A Somali woman applies a whitening cream that can cause cancer I / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

Nuura Mohamoud Abdirahman

Nuura was exploring the theme of connection and womanhood. She felt that women are generally not encouraged to be friends and form a community. Nuura wanted to convey in these pictures the story of a girl reaching for connection and community among her female peers

Connections await / We don't have to be alone / If we reach out to people there are so many to support and care for us / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

An apprehensive child bride I / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

A lady with a tomato stall at Suuqa Beerta Market / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

A young woman practicing henna art I / at a salon in Hodan District / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

Amal Xasan Shire Member of Parliament I / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

Journalist Maryam reading the news at Rajo Studio / Mogadishu, Somalia 2021

Safio Mohamed Warsame

Safio, an altruistic young woman, is concerned with the welfare of children, particularly young girls. She is especially critical of early child marriage, which she views as a violation of the rights of young girls and their chance to have a life of their own choosing. In these photographs, she imagines the emotional turmoil a young girl feels upon receiving news of her arranged marriage.

Sagal Ali Ibrahim

These pictures were taken by Sagal, who was exploring women working at market stalls. She developed a theme which she dubbed ‘survival mode’ to indicate how that their daily bread comes from their daily labour. All of these photographs were taken in one of Mogadishu’s largest markets located in the Waaberi district called Suuqa Beerta.