Somali Freedom Songs (recorded 1962)

[Safferz]

http://www.folkways.si.edu/TrackDetails.aspx?itemid=15627&GLMU=1

 

I came across this through my university's electronic resources, so unfortunately you won't be able to listen to the full audio without a license. But I recorded the first song, Dulkayaga here .

 

[SomaliPhilosopher]

I came across this a few months ago. Its a nice collection.

[SomaliPhilosopher]

Safferz, you have a interest in music from that period? you are the one who posted about Dur Dur right?

[Safferz]

I did. I posted about Dur Dur more because the story of how their music reappeared was interesting (and the songs were great too!), but this material is definitely more in line with my research... popular music (and poetry) can be a source to access what everyday people were listening to and thinking about during that period, and especially useful for Somali history since we're a predominantly oral society.

[SomaliPhilosopher]

Have you tried kooxda iftin? they were a government sponsored pop band

[Safferz]

Yes I have! It's amazing what Somalis have put on websites and on YouTube

[Saxansaxo]

I have been looking for the songs "wa mahad Alleh" and Calanka" for years. Thanks a lot saffers I thought I'd never find these historical songs again. The Norwegian state television once filmed somalis in 1990 in Norway, wearing traditional somali clothes while singing these two songs playing the kaban and drums. Saw it much later when i got older as my family had the tape and it was deep to see them standing there singing these profound songs while they were living in time of uncertainty and the country was in ruins. I can't imagine how it must have felt hearing those songs during our peoples new found independence.