The subject of Somali pirates is particularly popular among Danish media professionals. Meet three storytellers who provide first-hand witness accounts from Somalia.
Rasmus Krath, 35, Documentarian
The documentary “A Journey into Piracy – meeting the Somali Pirates” premiered on the Danish Broadcasting Network (DR) in early 2010. Since then it has been released in Belgium, Russia, Japan and 15 other countries.
World-traveller Rasmus Krath documents his efforts in tracking down pirates on Somali soil. He is equally fascinated and terrified by these mythical creatures who supposedly guard the sea off the Somali coast.
The story is profound in the sense that Rasmus Krath slowly but surely develops a rapport with the people, he encounters on his journey. From the pack of security guards that watch his every move to the few pirates, he manages to interview.
Laura Marie Sørensen, 28, Investigative Journalist
The book “Piratjagt – Kampen om menneskeliv og millioner”, which is currently only available in Danish, is the result of 10 month’s heavy research on Somali piracy conducted by journalists Laura Marie Sørensen and Camilla Stampe.
The authors provide a vivid and moving account of the many fates entangled in the Somali pirate industry:
- the people who profit from piracy
- the prostitutes
- the khat dealers
- the pirates
- the widows that have lost their spouses to piracy
This extraordinary web of interest and intrigue is a fascinating read. Evidently, the authors have set out to debunk the common belief that Somali piracy is a small-scale operation restricted to the waters. Instead, we learn that pirates are foot soldiers in a crime syndicate that streches beyond the African continent.
Nasib Farah, 30, documentarian and journalist
The Danish-produced film “My Cousin, the Pirate” documents the story of Nasib Farah and his cousin, Abdi, who wants to become a pirate. Farah has spent most of his adult life in Denmark – far away from his native country, Somalia.
The region in which Farah grew up is now the very centre of the large-scale Somali piracy, and some of the toughest pirates are from his own clan and family. So when Nasib learns that his cousin, Abdi plans to join the pirates as well, he decides to go home to make him change his mind.
The film gives a gripping insight to the plight of the Somali people. The story of those, who fled their homeland in search of a better future as well as the story of those, who were left behind to face an uncertain future.