Muqdisho

Muqdisho


"The Mosque of Abdul Aziz and the Mnara tower in Mogadishu in 1882'. From E.Cerulli, Somalia, Scritti Vari Editi ed Inediti, Vol. 1., Fig. XVI. Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, P.V., Rome, 1957. Figure is referenced as Dal Voyage chez les Benadirs di G. Revoil. Figure courtesy Library of Congress" (from page 138 of "Somalia in Word and Image", 1986, Ed by K.S. Loughran., J.L. Loughran., J.W. Johnson., S.S. Samatar. Published by the Foundation for Cross Cultural Understanding, Washington, D.C., and Indiana University Press)
'The Fakhr Ad-Din Mosque" in Mogadishu in 1882. From E.Cerulli, Somalia, Scritti Vari Editi ed Inediti, Vol. 1., Fig. XV. Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, P.V., Rome, 1957. Figure is referenced as Dal Voyage chez les Benadirs di G. Revoil. Figure courtesy Library of Congress" (from page 138 of "Somalia in Word and Image", 1986, Ed by K.S. Loughran., J.L. Loughran., J.W. Johnson., S.S. Samatar. Published by the Foundation for Cross Cultural Understanding, Washington, D.C., and Indiana University Press) The Fakhr Ad-Din Mosque is visible in many of the photos of the centre of Mogadishu that are shown elsewhere on this website, especially the aerial photographs. Look out for the short twin towers, round and hexagonal. The Fakhr Ad Din Mosque was constructed around 1269 AD
'"Weaver in Mogadishu in 1882' From E.Cerulli, Somalia, Scritti Vari Editi ed Inediti, Vol. 1., Fig. XVII. Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, P.V., Rome, 1957. Figure is referenced as Dal Voyage chez les Benadirs di G. Revoil. Figure courtesy Library of Congress" (from page 125 of "Somalia in Word and Image", 1986, Ed by K.S. Loughran., J.L. Loughran., J.W. Johnson., S.S. Samatar. Published by the Foundation for Cross Cultural Understanding, Washington, D.C., and Indiana University Press) Weaver appears to be a Bantu Somali (See here, and here for background)
"Cotton weaving in Mogadishu in 1882' From E.Cerulli, Somalia, Scritti Vari Editi ed Inediti, Vol. 1., Fig. XVIII. Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, P.V., Rome, 1957. Figure is referenced as Dal Voyage chez les Benadirs di G. Revoil. Figure courtesy Library of Congress" (from page 125 of "Somalia in Word and Image", 1986, Ed by K.S. Loughran., J.L. Loughran., J.W. Johnson., S.S. Samatar. Published by the Foundation for Cross Cultural Understanding, Washington, D.C., and Indiana University Press)
The Market Place in Mogadishu in 1882 From E.Cerulli, Somalia, Scritti Vari Editi ed Inediti, Vol. 1., Fig. XIV. Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, P.V., Rome, 1957 (5) The two points of the Fakhr Ad-Din Mosque can be seen to left of the buildings in the distance
2. Before the First World War: The beginnings of Italian colonisation

"Mogadisco (Banadir) Veduta di Amuruini" Postcard, circa 1905. The dark building in the middle of the photograph, but distant, may be the Sultan of Oman's fort, known as the Garessa. The white building with 14 arches may what was called "La Governatore", the centre of be the Italian colonial administration.
"Mogadiscio - Caravana in formazione davanti alla Dogana" Postage date 1913. Behind the camels is the same building with multiple arches, as in the 1905 postcard above

"Mogadiscio Panorama" Postcard, approx 1900-1910. Looking inland from Xamar Weyne, with the countryside evident in the near distance (later to become the district of Boondhere) Fakhr Ad-Din Mosque in the foreground. The Sultan of Oman's Garissa is the two story white builiding to the distant right (the one with a big door on the right side of the ground floor).

"Palazzo del governatore italiano a Mogadiscio" Original here:http://www.ethnoland.it/italiano/Imperial/imperial3.html. This shows only 10 arches, but may have been taken from the inland side of the building.
"Mogadiscio - Campo Militare" Location not certain, but the hill behind may be the location of what later became Villa Somalia. Or it could be the sand dune in Xamar Jab Jab (part of Waaberi)
Photo dated 1915, with the words on the back "Campo Ascari Sill'8 Comp, Mogadiscio 15/8/915" Location unknown.
3. Mogadishu between the Wars
"Somalia Italiana - Corso Vittorio Emanuel III" Looking inland, with Garessa on the distant right and Fakhr Ad Din mosque on the near left. First Post Office to the immediate left. Note gateway to the building on the right, made of two fasces symbols. One of which later stood at the end of this road (behind camera) as it turned right between the sea and Xamar Weyne. See two other Italian fascist symbols here: an eagle in Buulo Burti and a fasces somewhere on the road to Belet Weyne, provided courtesy of Lincoln Young
"Somalia Italiana - Mogadiscio - Via C.M. De Vecchi ". Postcard from the 1930's (11) This road intersects with Corso Vittoria Emanuelo a few hundred meters inland from the Garessa.The arch in the distance was built by the Italians in the mid-1930's, in association I think, with a visit to city by the King of Italy. On the left in the foreground was la Governatore, and later, the Al Aruba Hotel (see below). I worked in the BOCD office located on the right in the late 1980's.
"Somalia - Mogadiscio - Il centro" 1936 Cathedral to the far centre left, and Arba Rucun mosque in the centre right. Hill in the distance was later occupied by Villa Somalia.
"Mogadiscio - Panorama" Dated 10-12-1938. Looking out over the Municipality of Mogadishu office (in the 1980s)
"Corso Vittoria Emanuelo dalla Garessa" Italian postcard, pre-1940Copy courtesy of Ms F. Favilla, Italy. Photo taken looking to the sea, from the Garessa. The Garessa became the Museum in the 1980s, until it was moved into new premises around 1998-9. The original Post Office is visible in far right, at the end of the road

See also a selection from the wonderful photo archives of the Istituto Agronomico per l'Oltremare, of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
4. Second World War: British control
See Mogadishu in 1946/47, by Mike Allcock A story plus associated photos. Many thanks Mike
Photos below were provided by Carole Morgan, taken by her father (Juggins), in Mogadishu, circa 1948. Thanks Carole
5. Mogadishu in the 1950's and 1960s
"SOMALIA - MOGADISCIO - la Tomba di Scek Suffi" The tomb of Sheik Sufi, somewhere on the hill that Villa Somalia was located on, possibly on Nasib Bundo street, or uphill from the National Theatre. In the centre distance is Xamar Weyne, in the left distance is the tower of the old power station, and in the right distance are ships in new port area

"Mogadiscio - La diga foranea" Italian postcard . Taken from the "old port", and looking towards Xamar Weyne. Two cathedral towers visible on far right. Copy courtesy of Ms F. Favilla, Italy
"Mogadiscio - Dalla torre Cattedrale: Citta e Porta" Italian postcard. Looking back towards the "old port" Copy courtesy of Ms F. Favilla, Italy
"Mogadiscio - Pallazo degli Uffici" In the 1980's this building was the office of the Municipality of Mogadishu. Croce del Sud hotel only just visible on the right (the yellow building)
"Mogadiscio - La rada" Colored Italian postcard. Looking out from "La Governatore" Copy courtesy of Ms F. Favilla, Italy

"Mogadiscio - Collegio Regina Elena" Colored Italian postcard. Copy courtesy of Ms F. Favilla, Italy Looking from the Cathedral, inland towards Villa Somalia "Mogadiscio - Panorama" Possibly taken from La Governatore
Looking towards the cathedral from the site of early Governor's office, and later the Al Aruba Hotel. The Somali Commercial and Savings Bank is on the right. (13)	Cathedral, Italian arch and Arba Rucun mosque, looking inland towards the south-west. Possibly taken from the roof of the Garessa. (14)

6. Mogadishu in the 1970s and 1980s
See a larger version here
"Mogadiscio - La Cattedrale" Fiat taxis in the foreground.
"Mogadiscio - Panorama" Taken from the Al Aruba hotel
"Mogadiscio - Arba Rucun Mosque"
"Arba Rucun mosque" Cathedral in background, looking south, (15)	Arba Rucun Mosque, looking north-west (16)

Al Aruba Hotel Postcard from the1980s (19)	Shabelle Hotel near the old Parliament building (20)


A lane in Xamar Weyne, the old part of the city
"Suuqa Xoolaha Muqdisho" "Mogadishu - Live Stock Market", postcard from the 1980's. The market was located Waardhigley district, on the inland side of Villa Somalia. The market was moved to Karaan District in the late 1980's (24)
"Market Place in Mogadishu. Photo Ferguson, 1979" [Ceel Gab market, which was burned down in the mid-1980's] (from page 136 of "Somalia in Word and Image", 1986, Ed by K.S. Loughran., J.L. Loughran., J.W. Johnson., S.S. Samatar. Published by the Foundation for Cross Cultural Understanding, Washington, D.C., and Indiana University Press)
Street kids drawings, Mogadishu, circa 1986. Washing cars, shining shoes, and carrying loads to earn money, running away from police, and sniffing glue.
Street kids drawings, Mogadishu, circa 1986. Carrying loads, being chased by police, washing cars See also AN INTRODUCTION TO SHAX: A SOMALI GAME
The official view of youth: "Ubadkii Maanta Ubaxii Berrito. Today's Youth, The Flower of Tomorrow. Xarunta Dhallinta Kacaanka - C.A.C.C." Postcard from sometime during the 1970s/80s

See also the collection of political posters from the 1970's and 1980s
Photo courtesy Lincoln Young, taken around 1984. One of a number of "arches" conveying official political messages, in different locations within the city. This one was outside the ELU-CARE workshop and "Commerates 15 years of rule by Syad Barre". Note also a big political poster on the far left side of the road. These were usually temporary rather than permanent fixtures.
Taken circa 1984. With Al Aruba hotel to the right
Photo courtesy Lincoln Young, taken around 1984. The "Binoculars", built during the Italian period, but in serious disrepair in the 1980s. facing out to see, with entrance to the "old port" on the left, and road around to Shangani on the right.

Quarries in Karaan, to the north-east of the city. Lime kilns in the centre forground. Squatter settlement on the horizon, where many of the quarry workers lived
Dagax Tur (Stone throwing) monument. Looking towards Ceel Gaab market and Xamar Weyne beyond Copyright 2006 Ceegaag Online