A selection of photographs by David Tunnicliffe is taking the limelight at Milton Keynes Central Library this month.
Starting today (Nov 2) - and running all the way through to the end of the month - Somali Heritage will feature images taken between May 1981 and October 1983, when David served as Cultural Attaché and British Council Representative.
"During that time, together with my family, we travelled widely embracing the variety and diversity of the Somali culture and its people," David said, "In addition to my professional life, I am also a professional photographer and I photographed numerous locations and culturally rich Somalians in and around the surrounding regions of Mogadishu.
"I also helped at the National Museum on their wide, glass plate photographic archive."
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Perhaps unsurprisingly then, David was asked by the Minister of Culture and Heritage if he would photograph the historic areas of Shangane and Hamad Weyne - these areas, together with photographs of Neolithic man at Buur Heybe and feminine craft and culture will be the focus of this exhibition.
"As expressed by my Ambassador at the time, Mogadishu was an attractive mixture from old Arab style houses, largely of coral blocks from the sea, in narrow alleyways, to white, shuttered Italianate villas and official buildings in wider streets and tree lined squares, to more nondescript buildings of the modern era," David explained.
"The town had a cathedral, several mosques, a large parliament building, an octagonal crenelated tower by the harbour, and even a triumphal arch.
"My exhibition displays the images I took at the time. Now, almost 40 years on, little remains having sadly been destroyed in the civil war.
"Thankfully my entire photographic archive on Somali Heritage is held safe and secure in our National Archive for future generations to enjoy."
