The day before yesterday (five hours before we were about to start our first day of shooting) the government of Somaliland forbade us to shoot because they couldn't guarantee our safety.
Members of Abdi's clan (including his half-brother Ibrahim a.k.a. Fakte) threatened to harm us and our equipment if we didn't pay them EURO 30.000 (for the clan) and USD 57.500 (for Fakte.)
We had negotiated with them for five weeks although their claims have no legal justification whatsoever.
After the meeting with the Minister of Information and representatives of the clan, our Kayse was attacked. Fortunately he wasn't harmed but our producers had no other choice but to pull out.
Today we have to inform the cast and Somali crew. It will be the most difficult part of the decision to stop.
Oh God, oh God. This is terrible. I have similar stories from Haiti and Sierra Leone – all of greed. Greed greed.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI’m sorry to say this when many of my Somali friends may read this. But African folk tales are all of the trickster type: Either Brer Rabbit gets away with dishonesty or he doesn’t. West African, Haitian, and it seems (Sadly) Somali fundamental morality –as supported by folk-tales – only supports a version of morality based on getting away with it , or not.
But say more… More details please! (Will be in Hargeisa probably 17th November.
Bill Brookman, The Bill Brookman Foundation, bill@billbrookman.co.uk
Hello Bill,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenAll will be revealed when both crew and cargo have safely left the country. Watch this space.
I suppose this was the impression Roelof Jan Minneboo and his colleagues worked so hard to create about Somaliland and Africa. Provoking conflicts, disrespecting local people and their values, making false promises, exploiting locals with the possible minimum wage, should I continue? Mr. Bill Brookman what a blind judgement you have forwarded! The most professional thing to do would have been to check both sides of the story before you bottle and label Africa. Your reaction says too much about your sense of judgment and principles.
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