NGONGE Posted February 13, 2013 Young Somali actors in race to Oscars THE LOCAL producer of the Oscar-nominated short film Asad is in a race against time to get passports for the film’s two young Somali-born actors so that they can accompany him to Hollywood for the ceremony. Paternoster was transformed into a Somali seaside village for the film. The story follows the life of a young boy named Asad and the challenges he faces growing up in Somalia. The young actors in the film, brothers Harun, 14, and Ali, 12, Mohamed, were discovered in Bellville where they live with their father Mahdi Hassan Mohamed. Asad, nominated for best short film, has taken that gong at 13 festivals around the world. Rafiq Samsodien, the film’s Cape Town-based producer, said yesterday he was trying to take the boys and their father with him to the Oscars ceremony, which is on February 24. He said he had met a few hurdles in trying to do this. First he had to help the family extend their refugee status for the next four years. Once that was dealt with, he helped them with their passport applications. “ We got help from the provincial Department of Home Affairs and we stressed the urgency of the applications. But I have been going to the Home Affairs offices every single day since we applied and they said the hold-up is in the national office in Pretoria,” Samsodien said. “ These kids are deserving of the opportunity to be on the red carpet. Should the film win, this will be a very important moment not only for this country but also for the continent. This will be our opportunity to make right the injuries that they have been suffering through xenophobia.” He explained that the family, which had 14 other members, moved from Somalia to Cape Town in 2004. They arrived through Mozambique and settled in Kimberley for a while before moving to Bellville. Samsodien said that following Asad Ali and Harun had worked on another film, and some of the other cast members had also secured other film work. Samsodien said if they get the passports in time, they would leave for the US on February 20. Home Affairs spokesperson Lunga Ngqengelele said yesterday they were looking at the documents and would comment at a later stage. neo.maditla@inl.co.za Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alpha Blondy Posted February 13, 2013 slumdog millionaire kii laabad miyaa? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oba hiloowlow Posted February 13, 2013 show are they even somali? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SayidSomal Posted February 13, 2013 oba hiloowlow;917989 wrote: show are they even somali? Horta why do you question other people's soomaalinimo? I question your HAG'nimo! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oba hiloowlow Posted February 13, 2013 Sayid*Somal;917990 wrote: Horta why do you question other people's soomaalinimo? I question your HAG'nimo! Nah since most movies about somalia the actors are often non somalis thus why i questioned their somalinimo. You have every right to question my HAGnimo infact im not from that tribe im Jaaji from Harardheere Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SayidSomal Posted February 13, 2013 ^^ :D Haddaan 'shanta soomaali' in aad ka mid tahay sheki geliyo, sow ma shalaaysid? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted February 13, 2013 Oba, like you the kids have "Somali" names. Harun, 14, and Ali, 12, Mohamed, were discovered in Bellville where they live with their father Mahdi Hassan Mohamed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oba hiloowlow Posted February 13, 2013 LOL@Sayid Qardhaawi Ngonge inaar i was to lazy to read the piece, a picture says more than a thousand words sow maaha? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SayidSomal Posted February 13, 2013 ^it is Sayid Somal Al Qardhaawi (all in Arabic) saxiib. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oba hiloowlow Posted February 13, 2013 Sayid*Somal;917999 wrote: ^it is Sayid B]Somal[ [/b] Al Qardhaawi (all in Arabic) saxiib. thanks for the correction boowe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AYOUB Posted February 13, 2013 NGONGE, you can't fill The Xaaji's shoes. This belongs to the Peruvian thread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SayidSomal Posted February 13, 2013 oba hiloowlow;918027 wrote: thanks for the correction boowe you are welcome aboowe, But I get the feeling you are still missing the main point (of my correction) - ie- stop questioning other somalis 'soomaalinimo' on perceived looks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NGONGE Posted February 13, 2013 ^^ If Oba laid eyes on you or me, I strongly believe he'll stop talking to us saaxib. He'll think I'm a xabashi and you, err, well.... Ayoub, I was planning to put it there but then I thought I'd use it to alert the regulars of the absence of our Ormo-loving Xaaji. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tallaabo Posted February 13, 2013 oba hiloowlow;917997 wrote: LOL@Sayid Qardhaawi Ngonge inaar i was to lazy to read the piece, a picture says more than a thousand words sow maaha? What sort of features were you expecting to see to confirm their Soomaalinimo? These beautiful kids look very much like most of the Soomaali kids I have seen in Hargeisa. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SayidSomal Posted February 13, 2013 NGONGE;918042 wrote: ^^ If Oba laid eyes on you or me, I strongly believe he'll stop talking to us saaxib. He'll think I'm a xabashi and you, err, well.... Ayoub, I was planning to put it there but then I thought I'd use it to alert the regulars of the absence of our Ormo-loving Xaaji. :D You sly dog, I don't know about you, but no one dares to question my Somali'ness' or my Qardho credentials. Oba, (in your response to Tallabo) - remember af *****lan waa dahab :cool: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
