How Eastleigh’s iconic BBS Mall is fuelling the Somali love for photography

“Somalis love photos. Without them, I will have no business,” Solomon Worku, the manager of Obama Studio, tells The Eastleigh Voice at his shop on Eastleigh 10th Street.

Workers attending to clients at the studio’s branch at the BBS Mall in Eastleigh referred us to Solomon, an Ethiopian, when we stopped by their premises to get their insight on Somalis’ fascination with photos.

“Speak to Solomon. He will tell you everything you need to know,” one of the staff members, who did not wish to be named, told us.

Solomon has been in the photography business in Eastleigh for over 10 years and, as such, he has interacted with the local Somali population long enough to know why photography excites them.

His workers at the BBS Mall usually receive requests from clients wishing to be photographed at various picturesque spots inside the shopping centre. Other visitors to the mall take photos using their phones.

“First, they do it for fun. The clubbing and partying culture is not popular among Somalis. They prefer enjoying themselves by being around friends and family because they are a communal people. Photography blends in well with that aspect of their lives because when they take photos, they joke and laugh while seeing places together,” Solomon says.

“The other reason why they like taking photos is for social media, where they can chat more with their friends and families about how they look and the place where they took the photo. That way, they get to maintain their relationships with friends and families.”

“Also, there is the aspect of finding mates for marriage. Photos play a big role in that because they have a way of making a person look good, which helps to raise their prospects of finding a husband or wife. Finally, for official reasons like applying for a visa and other government services,” Solomon adds.

Solomon Worku, the manager of Obama Studio, at his office on Tenth Street in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on May 28, 2024. (Photo: Hafsah Hassan/EV)

Top spots

The BBS Mall, with its many restaurants, shops, and other business premises, has numerous picturesque spots.

They include the waterfall, which drips from the fourth floor to the water fountain on the lower ground floor, Swahili doors at the entrance of some banks and other business premises, corridors leading to some clothing shops and restaurants, lift doors and staircases, and wallpapers advertising real estate projects, as well as business premises and shops that are opening soon.

At all of these spots, the communal aspect of the Somali people was on full display. The visitors also matched BBS Mall’s scenic backgrounds with their tasteful dressing.

Everyone taking photos made a great effort to look good. Swag was evident in men as they accessorised their designer shoes, trousers, and shirts with trendy jackets and sweaters, shiny bling and watches, and cool caps and sunglasses. The women looked elegant in the flowing buibuis and matching hijabs.

Some took turns to photograph each other and while doing so, they stopped to check the photos taken. It is while reviewing the photos that they would joke and laugh before taking more photos at the same spot and later moving to document their time in the mall at another spot.

On the third floor, we found two Somali women and their children taking photos in front of a wallpaper announcing a restaurant that plans to open.

“We like coming to the BBS Mall because of the elegant interior. There are just so many good places to see. The lighting is so good and the space is quite big too. When you take a photo here, no one will know if it was taken during the day or at night. It is just a good place to visit with friends and family,” said one of the women who only identified herself as Hamdi.

People we spoke to praised the BBS Mall’s interior design, which allows a harmonious blend of natural and artificial lighting as well as enough space for people to move around. The spacious mall allows people to take photos without interfering with other shoppers.

Getting people to speak about their experience of taking photos at the mall was not easy as most politely declined to be interviewed.

“We are just here to enjoy ourselves a bit,” they told us.

A blessing for residents

But others were more than happy to speak about their adventure and have their photos taken.

“I stay in California Ward and BBS Mall is the nearest mall to me. I like coming here to take photos and also meet my friends,” said Mohammed Ahmed Musa.

Having a mall of such beauty in close proximity seems to be a blessing to Eastleigh residents, who do not have to visit others far away to indulge in their love for photography.

“I came to Eastleigh from Garissa and BBS Mall was the first place I wanted to visit because it is the biggest mall in East Africa. I like the lighting and the backgrounds in the BBS Mall. They make it a nice place to take photos and meet friends,” said Fatuma Abdi.

Photos mean a lot to the Somali people, and it is, therefore, not surprising that there is a business opportunity for photographers.

One of them is Abubakar Abdi, who moves around malls in Nairobi, taking photos and videos of Somalis who frequent the business centres.

Abubakar has invested in high-end phones, which allow him to take high-resolution images and videos of his clients, who later share the same on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

“I charge Sh100 or Sh150 for a photo and Sh400 for a video clip, depending on its length,” he said.

He uses his phone because only authorised media, the mall’s photographers, and the Obama Studio workers are allowed to take photos inside the mall.

“One has to get a permit from the mall’s management before being allowed to use a camera inside the mall,” said Mohamed Abdi Barre, an employee of the mall who added that this is for security reasons.

“Most people visit the mall from 4 pm to take photos. They stay here till late, taking photos and mingling. That time is popular because most people have already left work and their daily engagements. Some are content creators, while others come here to take photos for fun,” Mohamed said.

“We also restrict photography to only certain areas.”

While touring the mall, we noticed security guards politely requesting shoppers not to take photos in certain areas.

“It is part of my everyday job,” said Francis Otieno, one of the security guards.

With the BBS Mall expected to grow with more restaurants, a bowling alley, and a games arcade, its appeal as the most picturesque shopping centre in Eastleigh is expected to soar and attract more people seeking to take photos.