The first bowling alley in Somalia welcomes middle class returnees and foreigners
Listen to this article
Average 3 minutes
The audio version of this article was created by AI-based technology. It can be mispronounced. We are working with our partners to continuously review and improve the results.
In a city once defined by conflict, Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, is now accompanied by the crashing of pins in the first modern skating rink.
It is the latest sign of revival in the once-thriving Indian Ocean port built on 35 years of civil war and bombing.
Millions of people were forced to flee what became one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Those who remain are avoiding public places, as the al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab mounts an insurgency against the Somali government.
In recent years, improved security measures against al-Shabab, increased government presence and growing private investment have allowed daily life to re-emerge. Cafes line newly reopened streets, beaches attract evening crowds and traffic jams, unimaginable before, now block important intersections.
The Feynuus Bowling Center opened last year and attracts many locals and Somali expatriates, who bring investment and business ideas after years of sending billions of dollars in remittances.
On a recent night, young Somalis gathered in groups, laughing and snapping pictures on their phones while the music played.
‘Mogadishu is really safe’
Many from abroad are visiting Mogadishu for the first time in years – or for the first time.
“I couldn’t believe Mogadishu had this place,” said Hudoon Abdi, a Somali Canadian on vacation, as he prepared to take his chance to play in the bowl.
“I enjoy it. Mogadishu is actually safe,” he said, urging others to visit.
Mogadishu remains vulnerable to terrorist attacks, however, with security measures such as checkpoints and heavily guarded areas part of everyday life. Non-Somalis are still largely confined to the compound at the international airport.
But residents say being able to gather for fun shows an important psychological shift. Such places provide a welcome place for the new generation who long for safe places to have fun.
Abukar Hajji returned to the United Kingdom on holiday after many years away and found the difference between what he thought and what he saw eye-opening.
“When I flew from the UK, I thought it was a scary place, like a war-torn country,” he said. Everyone told me, ‘Good luck.’ But when I came and saw it with my own eyes, I didn’t want to leave.
Sadaq Abdurahman, the manager of the bowling center, said the idea for the business came from the growing demand among young people for recreational facilities.
“It has created job opportunities for at least 40 young people,” he said.
According to the Somalia National Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate in Somalia stands at 21.4 percent.
The bowling alley has private security guards, bag checks and surveillance cameras, reflecting the usual security measures in public places in Mogadishu.
Urban planners and economists say businesses like the bowling alley reflect a broader shift in Mogadishu’s recovery, as private sector growth increasingly coincides with international aid and government-led reconstruction efforts.
Ahmed Khadar Abdi Jama, who teaches economics at the University of Somalia, said the new businesses are responding to the needs of expatriates and a growing middle class, “which adds to the expected increase in Somalia’s GDP.”
