“Merca – Missionari i poveri”
Dated 1911. Published by Missione Francescana di Mogadiscio
Healing ceremony
Undated postcard. Looks like a healing ceremony, a zar perhaps. Can anyone help with more information? Post your Comments below
“Mogadiscio – Arabo – Somali”
Possibly from Xamar Weyne or Shangani area of the city? Any ideas, if so please leave a Comment
Double click on photo to get a large and more detailed view
Hand weavers of Mogadishu cloth
Possibly in Xamar Weyne, where weaving like this continued until the 1980s
Traditionally done by the slave section of the Xamar population, known as (h)abash or adoon
The text below is from “The Politics of Dress in Somali Culture” By Heather Marie Akou, 2011
See also an engraving of a similar scene from the 1880s, here.
“Mogadiscio – Il mercato”
Where was this photo taken? I think it is somewhere near the gold market (the arches in the distance?), but I am not sure. Leave a comment if you can help
“Autorita indigene di Mogadiscio”
Click on photo to enlarge
“Indigenous authorities of Mogadishu”, circa 1901 (from an Italian magazine). Who are the people shown here and where was the photo taken? Leave your comment below.
“General Mohamed Siyad”
“Leader of the military coup ousting Premier Egal, Commander of the Somalia Armed Forces shown here with his adjuntary (a major) outside the military headquarters in Mogadiscio” In 1969
“Somalia Italiana – Il te (ciai) della cinque”
Click on photo to enlarge
Where is this location? In the background are what look like three or four sandy roads heading uphill and away from the photographer. These may be the outskirts of Mogadishu at the time.
Note the silver jewelery worn by the women. Similar if not the same as the item below, in the case of the women on the left (click to enlarge, twice)
Mogadishu street kids, circa 1987
Drawings of street kids washing cars, carrying loads, polishing shoes, sniffing glue and running from the police
Le filage, l’encollage et le devidage du coton a Moguedouchou – Dessin de Riou, d’apres une photographie de auterur
Click on photo to enlargen
Published in 1885, in Le Tour du Monde: Nouveau Journal Des Voyages, by Charton, Edouard, 1807-1890
Volume XLIX> Voyages chez les Benadirs, Les Comalis et les Bayouns, par M..G. Revoil en 1882 et 1883 . Texte et Dessins inedits
Somali camel and rider
Text on back of card reads:
Carte Postale
Hotel de l’Europe
Turkish Shop
I. Benghiat Som
Aden
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Somali Family
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Somalidorf
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Somalidorf
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R. C. M. Somali – Somali Grave
The card was posted to Belgium in December 1920
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R. C. M. Somali – Building Somali hut
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R. C. M. Somali – Young lad wearing “gardas”
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Mogadishu: Images from the Past 
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