Abdi Aynte

Abdi Aynte

Now calling Washington, D.C., home, former Minnesota Independent reporter Abdi Aynte returns to the Twin Cities today to discuss the nuances of covering the local Somali community. A Washington correspondent for the BBC World Service, he’ll discuss how a community that may seem homogeneous to outsiders is truly diverse, highlighting how clan rivalries, ethnic and class differences can affect perspectives. As a senior fellow and founding reporter at MnIndy (then Minnesota Monitor), Aynte covered Keith Ellison’s congressional campaign and the controversy over Muslim cab drivers who opposed transporting passengers who carried alcohol from the airport, among many other topics. In December, he reported on area Somali youth who’ve returned home to fight in the ongoing war with Ethiopia, a topic he’ll continue to cover for the BBC and MnIndy. Join him for a “Somalia 101″ coffee  hour today at 3:30 at Bedlam Theater in Minneapolis. Hosted by the Twin Cities Media Alliance, the event will be followed by a happy hour at Bedlam for staff, contributors and supporters of its flagship news operation, the Twin Cities Daily Planet.