Drawing in the customers in Mogadishu

Drawing in the customers in Mogadishu

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

. Mogadishu, Somalia. Reuters/Feisal Omar

Somalian 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.

. Mogadishu, Somalia. Reuters/Feisal Omar

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

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

. Mogadishu, Somalia. Reuters/Feisal Omar

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.

"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."

. Mogadishu, Somalia. Reuters/Feisal Omar

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.

. Mogadishu, Somalia. Reuters/Feisal Omar

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

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