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Shik Shik's Storefront Art Draws In Customers in Mogadishu


A mural showing spare parts for vehicles is seen on a wall of a shop in Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 10, 2017.
A mural showing spare parts for vehicles is seen on a wall of a shop in Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 10, 2017.

A collection of yawing mouths and extracted teeth, booming stereo speakers and colorful hookah pipes adorn shop fronts in Somalia, a colorful contrast to the airbrushed artworks of big business.

Somali mural artist Muawiye Hussein Sidow, also known as "Shik Shik," is the man responsible for the art that features on more than 100 shops, including barbers, tea shops and supermarkets across Mogadishu.

Somali dentist Hassan Ali, 35, sits inside his dental clinic with murals painted on the walls in Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 7, 2017.
Somali dentist Hassan Ali, 35, sits inside his dental clinic with murals painted on the walls in Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 7, 2017.

Sidow's work has a hand-drawn simplicity, usually involving bright, eye-catching colors. Some pieces stretch over several meters.

Sidow's father was a commercial artist, who passed his knowledge and skills on to his son.

Sidow, 31, took on his father's business in 1998 and his painting supports not only his own family, but helps sustain his dad as well as many others.

A mural on the wall of a fast food store illustrates food and drinks in Wabari district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 8, 2017.
A mural on the wall of a fast food store illustrates food and drinks in Wabari district of Mogadishu, Somalia, June 8, 2017.

"I make the pictures to get daily food for my wife and three kids," he told Reuters. "I also give daily food to [my] retired old father. Now I have become an art teacher there are many artists whom I taught how to make pictures, and they also get their daily food."

Sidow said he never duplicated murals and that inspiration came from Somali daily life.

Aside from feeding his family and brightening up the urban landscape, Sidow still has ambitions to do more with his art.

"God willing, I hope I will also make pictures in the neighboring countries."

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    Reuters

    Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson Reuters Corporation based in Toronto, Canada. One of the world's largest wire services, it provides financial news as well as international coverage in over 16 languages to more than 1000 newspapers and 750 broadcasters around the globe.

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