For the third year running, Tedx Mogadishu today returned to the Somali capital in a lively debated dubbed ‘Mogadishu Rising’ held at the picturesque Ocean View restaurant along the city’s famous Lido Beach.
The event attracted a variety of speakers from all walks of life who all came to speak about Mogadishu, peace and the growing optimism in Somalia. This year’s TEDx Mogadishu was sponsored through a private-public partnership; speakers included Mogadishu Deputy Mayor Iman Aar, social media maverick and Mogadishu resident Zahra Qorane, who has made it her personal mission to help change the negative perceptions Mogadishu and Somalia through positive pictures and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nick Kay, among others.
Ilwad Iman, a Somali youth activist who co-hosted the event, said Tedx Mogadishu was stirring discussions among the people of Mogadishu. “What TEDx Mogadishu does, it actually brings people together – it allows people to just sit back and listen to what’s actually happening and to have an opportunity to interact with like-minded individuals.
We haven’t had a space like that in more than two decades and I think that’s why it’s met with optimism and such excitement every single time TEDx is in town, because they want to hear ‘what’s happening in my city and how can I be a part of this great change?’.
” SRSG Kay encouraged the Somali youth to continue to build messages of optimism and progress, through which they could overcome many of the challenges the country continues to face. “This is a very uplifting and encouraging event in a room full of very educated and very bright, energetic, mostly young Somalis – so they are very very united and their optimism about Mogadishu rising and Somalia rising,” SRSG Kay said.
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