Launch of an exhibition of photographs and testimonies from displaced people across four Somali cities: Thursday 14 March 2019 (3-5pm) - The Arch, Africa Centre (London SE1 0BL)



Large scale migration and forced displacement are among the most dramatic consequences of war and political instability. In the research project ‘Security on the Move’, forty people who have been displaced to cities took pictures to document their experiences and everyday lives. Join us for an exhibition of these images and the photographers' testimonies.

All welcome! The event is free but registration for the launch is required.







Launch event programme*

Introduction of the research project and presentations of the main findings

Guided tour through the exhibition. Visitors can explore the exhibition and talk to the researchers

Panel discussion featuring experts dealing with challenges of rapid urbanisation and forced migration. This will feature: Hannah Stogdon (Programme Manager, Rift Valley Institute); Dr Muna Ismail (Programme Manager, Initiatives of Change UK); Dr Nick Bass (Consultant Psychiatrist and Director of Global Health East, London NHS Foundation Trust); and Rubbina Karruna (Cities Advisor, UK Department for International Development).

There will be opportunities for the audience to ask questions and engage with the panellists and the research team.

*Although this launch event will take place between 3-5pm, the exhibition is open to the public from 12-3pm and 5-7pm (no RSVP necessary)





Project background

The ‘Security on the Move’ project is conducted by the Durham Global Security Institute at Durham University, Noragric at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and the Somali civil society organisation SOWELPA, in collaboration with UNHabitat. For this research, interviews were conducted with 120 displaced people in the cities of Baidoa, Bosaaso, Hargeisa and Mogadishu. Forty internally displaced people were trained and equipped to take photographs that document their everyday lives in order to present their perspectives on security and urbanisation across these cities.

All exhibited photographs were taken by displaced people who have participated in the project. Public exhibitions and discussions have already been held in the four Somali project cities in January 2019. We are now following these events with exhibitions in Oslo, London and Nairobi.

Project funded by Department of International Development (DFID), UK and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), UK

