A new generation of female baristas is reshaping Mogadishu’s hospitality industry while challenging long-standing gender stereotypes. Among them is 23-year-old Saabiriin Hassan, who became one of Somalia’s first female baristas after training in 2020 despite criticism that coffee-making was a job for men. As security improves and investment returns to the capital, coffee shops are multiplying, creating employment opportunities and social spaces for Somalia’s predominantly young population. Companies such as Beydan, which employs more than 136 people with women making up over 40% of its workforce, are driving the sector’s expansion. The growing demand has also prompted training centers to offer barista courses, attracting many female students. Hassan, who also works as a trainer at one of these centers, hopes the industry will continue empowering young Somalis while inspiring more women to pursue skilled careers and entrepreneurship.
The Guardian