Mogadishu hosts Drama festival on perilous Mediterranean journey to Europe

Young Somali musicians staged Drama Festival for the first time in 25 years at Mogadishu’s Lido beach along the Indian Ocean Shore in a bid to shade light the plight of perilous journey take Somali youth through Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe.

The event features performances in various genres: stage plays, stage dances and stand-up comedy.

Mogadishu has seen rapid growth and developments in the music sector as Somali singers based in and out the country have stood up to entertain Somalis in the capital Mogadishu.

Two of Mogadishu’s local actors, Osman Salad Dahir and Adan Shueyb Leeleefow have displayed short film about the perilous journey from Somalia to Italy where many Somalis their lives in Mediterranean Sea

The two said they have stood to warn young Somalis about the dangers and aftermath hardship of this risky journey.

“We believe that raising awareness programs is one of the best solutions for this tragedy, and it should be conducted where the journey is started from, here in Somalia” said Dahir.

He added “The search for better live has made this youths to lose their sense of reasoning, and embark of on audacious odyssey through Sahara desert to Europe.”

Adan Shueyb said “We won’t give up until the end and we are very optimistic of this awareness to be successful with the necessary support.”

One of the festival’s performers calls such arts initiatives “the peace dividend”.

“These programmes can promote post-conflict recovery in a variety of ways. We know Somali youth are affected ones.” He said.