Somali Sideways is an initiative aiming to recover pride in and ownership of the Somali diaspora storytelling. Photographer, storyteller and journalist Mohamed Mohamud from the boroughs of London initiated the journey with the observation that the public discourse around his community was painted with a disdaining and negative brush: photographs, articles, the news; all covered failures and issues, hardly ever accomplishments. He took upon himself to change that by telling the stories of individuals who thrived despite hardships. At his young age, he sought after them and toured not only the UK, but places who welcomed Somali immigration: Kenya, Tanzania, Norway, even Indonesia. After each encounter, he captured them facing sideways.
The Nuruba initiative was born out of a similar observation. The sense of duty which, in our belief, we owe to yourselves and our fellows, is a shared value between Somali Sideways and Nuruba. Therefore, it was only a matter of time before we featured Mohamed's works on The Nurubian.
