Yosakoi Dancers with Naruko Clappers in Mogadishu

Honeyed evening light falls across a public square in Mogadishu, illuminating performers dressed in colorful Japanese costumes holding wooden naruko clappers. Wet pavement reflects the warm sky, showing puddles left by the recent rainy season. Dancers stand in formation on the damp ground, their vibrant fabrics against the gray stone. Behind the front row, layers of the crowd and distant buildings recede into the background. A red sash on a dancer's hip catches the low sun, creating a sharp edge of color against the gray stone.