The team is growing

Yesterday we were joined by Michiel, Han and Ed from Holland who had lunch with the Minister of Justice and National Guidance only a couple of hours after their arrival in Hargeisa. They didn't have camel.

Other characters

Geele has a young sister called Khadra: she is too smart for her age and is the quiet, observing commentator in the story. We found a candidate at the Sheik Bashir school.

The orphanage school...

Got up early this morning to be at the orphanage school at 07.30. It was fun to notice that the children remembered my name. ROELOF HOW ARE YOU! My Somali must have been more impressive than I give myself credit for.

We got to work with dozens of children. Mirroring and other western fun-drama-teaching tools work slightly differently here. The crow costume doesn't really help the girls...

We found a couple of possible Nuuras, Geeles and some possible secondary parts.

Mr 'what's your nickname' came through again today and so did the poetess with the fascinating eyes. She told us that her father might still be alive somewhere and that she never knew her mother.

An older student at the orphan school saw us in the compound, missed us there and decided to come to the hotel to offer his services. He likes art and wants to act. His nickname is David.

Lula's children

Only two days after the wedding there are daughters...

The production Xaafiskaa is ready

Guillaume  decorating the QUELEH xaafiskaa (Somali for office like booliskaa is police.)

They would make a lovely couple, wouldn't they...

Lula and Kayse posing as newlyweds in the Mount Royal Wedding Hall.

Still looking for Nuura...

We met this girl at one of the orphanages. She was the runner up in a local poetry contest. We will meet her tomorrow night (inshallah.) Our appointment yesterday didn't really go as planned.