Journalism of Courage
The short talks by artists and intellectuals at events known as TEDx have been held 7,500 times in more than 150 countries,but there may not be an event more challenging or dangerous as the TEDx talk that was held in Mogadishu last Saturday.
Then again,there may be no city in the world that needs its strongest voices heard as much as Somalias capital,which is clawing its way forward to move beyond its bombs-and-bullets past.
Baghdad and post-conflict Tripoli have each hosted recent TEDx talks. But Mogadishu is probably the most challenging place for the talks,according to Nate Mook,co-organiser of the event.
Originally the second TEDx talk in Mogadishu was to be held in June. But that month al-Shabab rebels attacked a United Nations office centre,killing eight UN employees and five Somali civilians.
TEDs theme this year was Ideas Worth Spreading. Saturdays lineup showcased Somalias budding stars. Iman Elman is a 21-year-old commander in Somalias military in charge of a battalion of nearly 100 men. Mohamed Mahamoud Sheik,a 25-year-old entrepreneur,noticed in 2012 that Somali men were hand-carrying their suits on flights from Mogadishu to Nairobi. Why? Somalias capital had no dry-cleaning services,so he started one.
Security was the No. 1 priority of the day,according to Mook. Audience members at the talk passed through security checkpoints and were individually searched. Before the event,they didnt even know where it would take place.
We dont announce where the event is taking place, said Mook,a 31-year-old from Washington,D.C.
Arranging Internet access to beam the English and Somali language talks to the world was a big challenge. But Mook helped with Mogadishus first TEDx talks last year,and says he was much more excited about this years event.
The amount of support for Somalis all over the world to hear about these positive stories has been immense. In many ways TEDx provided,it opened a door to a place that was inaccessible for a really long time, Mook said.
Ahmed Jama,a British-Somali chef,who spoke last year,said last years talk connected me to the world. The talk won him an invitation to a cooking event in Denmark.
Ilwad Elman,who helps run the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre in Mogadishu,spoke at last years TEDx event and is a co-organiser this year. She said last years event inspired Somalis to return to Mogadishu to open businesses.
I believe its most worth it because of the real potential that (they) will act on the ideas shared with them this year,just as they did last year,and ultimately contribute to eradicating current risks we face in organising this event.
