Mention the East African nation of Somalia in casual conversation and you may get a blank look or even a scowl. Decades of civil war, terrorism, and acute food shortages have contributed to its poor global reputation. Movies like Black Hawk Down, about the US military’s 1993 raid and subsequent rescue mission on the streets of Mogadishu, and Captain Phillips, about Somali pirates boarding a huge cargo ship and attempting to hold the crew hostage, haven’t helped.
But as with other troubled countries around the globe, the music of Somalia has managed to survive and even thrive. This article will provide an introduction to Somali music from the 1970s to today.
Somalia’s official name is the Federal Republic of Somalia. Stretching across the Horn of Africa, it is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east, and Kenya to the southwest.
For centuries Somalia was an important trading hub due to its proximity to the Middle East and India. During the Middle Ages this trade was dominated by a series of powerful Somali sultanates. In the late 19th century these sultanates were colonized by Great Britain and Italy, creating British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland. In 1960, the two territories united to form the independent Somali Republic.
Somalia’s current population is about 20 million, with over two and a half million living in the coastal capital city of Mogadishu. The official language is Somali.
The music of Somalia is a mix of African and Arabic influences. It is pentatonic, using five pitches per octave, and can take some getting used to for Western ears. It sounds similar to the music of Sudan and nearby Arabic countries.
From the late 1960s until the early 1990s, a vibrant music scene in Mogadishu supported a large community of pop and folk musicians. The music spanned several genres of Somali traditional music, often blended with Middle-Eastern elements, as well as Western pop, jazz, soul and reggae. Although the civil war and subsequent repressive governments caused the arts to suffer, Somali music of all kinds continues to thrive, thanks in part to the diaspora living in cities worldwide.
Below I’ve listed a few of the most prominent Somali bands and artists.
Waaberi
This legendary musical and theatrical troupe was founded in 1973 and had as many as 300 members at its height, including singers, musicians, dancers and actors. When the civil war erupted in 1991, many members of Waaberi joined other artists in fleeing the country. Some ended up in England, including the group’s musical “star” Maryam Mursal. In 1997, Mursal and several other band members made New Dawn, a great (and great-sounding) live recording. It’s out of print, but still available for a decent price on Discogs, and available to stream on Spotify and Tidal.
“Indo Ashak”:
Dur-Dur Band
The Dur-Dur Band was formed during the 1980s, and its upbeat blend of disco and funk made it one of the most popular bands in the Mogadishu dance scene. The group disbanded when Somalia’s civil war broke out in 1991. Several members fled the country, and the band re-formed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where they recorded several albums before some members scattered to other countries. Three of the founding members currently live in Ohio!
My introduction to Somali pop music came in 2013 when the record label Awesome Tapes From Africa re-released Dur-Dur Band’s 1987 cassette Volume 5 on vinyl, cassette and CD. Another notable release is Dur Dur of Somalia – Volume 1, Volume 2 & Previously Unreleased Tracks from the reissue label Analog Africa.
“Is Yeelyel”:
Sahra Halgan
Sahra Halgan comes from Somaliland, in the north. Somaliland is generally considered to be part of Somalia, although one country, Israel, recently recognized it as an independent nation. Halgan moved to France in 1991 to escape Somalia’s civil war, and began her music career there, but moved back to Somaliland in 2015. Her songs are based in the traditional qaraami style, but often add an electric jolt of desert blues guitar, which helps her music stand out from other current Somali artists.
“Sharaf”:
If you find the music in these clips at all interesting, I’ve put together a Spotify playlist with 15 diverse tracks. Huge thanks to my friend and fellow WTJU DJ, Steve Harris, for introducing me to many of these artists.
Click here to hear a Spotify playlist of music from Somalia.
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