15 Mar 2013

SOMALIA / MOGADISHU NIGHTLIFE

Motorists and pedestrians make their way home or run errands as darkness falls in Mogadishu – once referred to as 'the most dangerous city in the world'. The once deserted streets of the Somali capital are now a hive of activity, with shops and restaurants doing brisk business in various parts of the city well into the night. AU / UN IST

Posted at: March 15, 2013 1:30 pm

Duration: 02:25

Available in: SD

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STORY: SOMALIA / MOGADISHU NIGHTLIFE
TRT: 2.25
SOURCE: AU / UN IST
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: SOMALI / NATS
 
DATELINE: 12 MARCH 2013, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA / RECENT
 
SHOTLIST:

12 MARCH 2013, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

1.	Wide shot, moon in night sky
2.	Wide shot, Maka Al-Mukarama street at night
3.	Wide shot, people walking on the streets
4.	Wide shot, people outside Daaru Salaam Restaurant
5.	Med shot, restaurant owner selling at night
6.	Med shot, food being packaged for take-away
7.	SOUNDBITE (Somali) Mohamad Mohamud Raage, Owner, Daaru Salaam Restaurant:
"We are doing our best so that this city and our businesses can progress, and we are praying that Allah will let this peace continue, because it's this peace that allows us to make a living."
8.	Wide shot, people having dinner outside Daaru Salaam restaurant
9.	Close up, man eating
10.	Close up, food on a plate
11.	SOUNDBITE (Somali) Unidentified Daaru Salaam Restaurant Patron:
"The reason we are still out on the streets at this time is because of the peace we're experiencing. We come out at night, like at 9 p.m. for meals because the security situation is better than it was before and we can go home safely at anytime."
12.	Med shot, sign reading Nabaad Supermarket
13.	Pan left, goods inside the supermarket
14.	Med shot, man looking at peanut butter
15.	Med shot, Ali Moumin Abdi, teller at Nabaad registering the items
16.	SOUNDBITE (Somali): Moumin Abdi, Teller, Nabaad Supermarket:
"People are shopping at this time because there is security. Sometimes we are open till 11:30 or midnight because are 100 percent sure that they will be safe. We've forgotten the sound of bullets because we don't hear them anymore."

RECENT - MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

17.	Wide shot, entrance of City Palace Hotel
18.	Med shot, singer Mohammed Hassan Hussein Lafoole performing
19.	Med shot, Mohammed performing as crowd of fans dance
20.	Med shot, woman dancing
21.	Med shot, woman dancing
22.	SOUNDBITE (Somali) Sahra Isse, Journalist:
"During the times of trouble it was unusual for people to be out at this time of night. But today I can see that there's a big change and I welcome it and I hope it will continue."
23.	Med shot, people dancing
24.	Med shot, women dancing
 
STORYLINE:

Motorists and pedestrians make their way home or run errands as darkness falls in Mogadishu - once referred to as 'the most dangerous city in the world'.
 
The once deserted streets of the Somali capital are now a hive of activity, with shops and restaurants doing brisk business in various parts of the city well into the night.

Just two years ago, few of Mogadishu's residents would have dared stay out past sunset as various groups battled for control of the city. But things changed dramatically here from August 2011, when the al Qaeda-linked group al Shabaab, were forced to flee their positions in the capital by the Somali National Army (SNA) and the African Union Peacekeeping Forces (AMISOM).
 
Mohamad Mohamud Raage, owner of the popular Daaru Salaam Restaurant, is working hard to cash in on the growing numbers of people who like coming out at night to share meals with their family and friends.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Mohamad Mohamud Raage, Owner, Daaru Salaam Restaurant:
"We are doing our best so that this city and our businesses can progress, and we are praying that Allah will let this peace continue, because it's this peace that allows us to make a living."

Customers agree.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Unidentified Daaru Salaam Restaurant Patron:
"The reason we are still out on the streets at this time is because of the peace we're experiencing. We come out at night, like at 9 p.m. for meals because the security situation is better than it was before and we can go home safely at anytime."
 
Nabaad Super Market is another one of Mogadishu's businesses that is enjoying a boom now that customers can pick up items they didn't have time to grab during the day.

SOUNDBITE (Somali): Moumin Abdi, Teller, Nabaad Supermarket:
"People are shopping at this time because there is security. Sometimes we are open till 11:30 or midnight because are 100 percent sure that they will be safe. We've forgotten the sound of bullets because we don't hear them anymore."

Recently Mogadishu played host to British Diaspora singer Mohammed Hassan Hussein Lafoole, whose concert highlighted just how much the city has changed. Music and dancing was banned during al Shabaab rule.

SOUNDBITE (Somali) Sahra Isse, Journalist:
"During the times of trouble it was unusual for people to be out at this time of night. But today I can see that there's a big change and I welcome it and I hope it will continue."
 
Somalia faces many daunting challenges, but the capital's growing nightlife, is a sign that people in the country's hub are singing a new tune: one of peace, development and hope.