Somalia hosts its first cinema in 30 years

Somalia has hosted its first movie screening in 30 years under heavy security as the conflict-ravaged country hopes for a cultural renewal. The event was held at the National Theatre of Somalia, which has a history that reflects the civil war in the Horn of Africa nation.

The theatre has been targeted by suicide bombers and used as a base by warlords – and until Wednesday it had never screened a Somali film.

The evening’s programme was two short films by Somali director IBrahim CM – Hoos and Date from Hell – with tickets sold for $10 (8.50 euros) each, expensive for many.

Mogadishu was home to many cinema halls during its cultural heyday, and the National Theatre – built by Chinese engineers as a gift from Mao Zedong in 1967 – hosted live concerts and plays. But the seaside capital fell silent after civil war erupted in 1991.

Warlords used the theatre as a military base and the building fell into disrepair. It reopened in 2012, but was blown up by al-Shabaab jihadists two weeks later.

For many Somalis, it was a trip down memory lane and a reminder of happier times. Attenders had to pass through several security checkpoints before arriving at the theatre, inside a heavily guarded complex that includes the presidential palace and the parliament.