Somali Businesses in Eastleigh, Nairobi

This is a USIU-Africa student project I got to be part of just over a year ago.

We investigate why the mainly Somali-inhabited district of Nairobi, Eastleigh, has become a trade hub for all of East Africa despite the very poor infrastructure of the area.

Our interviewees are: Somali community leader Hajji Hussein; businessman Muhammed Ibrahim Shakul; anthropologist Dr. Paul Goldsmith; and professor Macharia Munene (USIU).

The crew consisted of: Selma Asmae Moutchou (producer and editor); Faith Ochieng (co-producer); Suleiman Abdullahi (associate producer), Anthony Cabral (director and DoP); Mercie Matu (DoP); Abdi Latif Dahir (co-writer); and Zerubabel Odera (technical supervisor).

Writing, interviewing, presenting and voice-over were my part, and I learned a lot doing it. Had some good fun in the process too. Thanks to the rest of the crew for letting me take part despite having no experience with cameras, production, interviewing, and all the rest of it. It taught me a lot, and I'm grateful for it. Would love to do more of this sometime...