These recordings were conducted in the Eighties in the streets of Baraawe (or Brava, a few kilometres from Mogadiscio), and they are little gems of popular music. As in major areas of the African horn, Arab and Asian influences are very strong, the guitar is played like the ’ud and the vibes of Bollywood trill through a plastic flute. Most surprising is however the free use of a small electric Casio-type organ and of a drum machine, which give a "video games" feeling to this rudimentary and totally unheard Taarab.
a Somali city
Original Music - OMCD 007