Various Artists: Sweet As Broken Dates: Lost Somali Tapes from the Horn of Africa (Vinyl LP)
Ostinato Records
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Double vinyl LP pressing. 2017 collection. In 1988, on the eve of a two decade civil war, Somalia's authoritarian ruler Siad Barre launched punishing air strikes on the north of the country, known today as Somaliland, in response to agitations for independence. The bombing leveled the entire city. Barre targeted Radio Hargeisa to prevent any kind of central communication system that could organize a resistance. With the attack imminent, a few brave radio operators and dedicated vanguards of Somali culture knew the archives, containing over half a century of Somali music had to be preserved. Thousands upon thousands of cassette tapes and master reels were quickly removed from the soon-to-be targeted buildings. They were dispersed to neighboring countries like Djibouti and Ethiopia, and buried deep under the ground to withstand even the most powerful airstrikes. These audio artifacts were excavated and recalled from their foreign shelters only very recently. Some of those recordings are now kept safe in the 10,000-strong cassette tape archive of the Red Sea Foundation, the largest collection of Somali cassettes in the world, in Somaliland's capital, Hargeisa. This music was never made available for mass release. Almost all recorded material came from original masters or homemade recordings of radio broadcasts. As a result, most of it has never been heard outside Somalia and the immediate region. Nimco Jamaac - Buuraha U Dheer (The Highest Mountains), Aamina Camaari - Rag Waa Nacab Iyo Nasteexo (Men Are Cruel and Kind), Ali Nuur - Unknown, Hibo Nuura - Haddii Hoobalkii Gabay (If the Artist Let's You Down), Gacaltooyo Band Feat. Faduumina Hilowle - Ninkaan Ogayn (He Who Does Not Know), Iftiin Band Feat. Mahmud Abdalla Jerry Hussen ; Maryan Naasir - Xuduud Ma Leh Xubigaan (This Love Has No Boundaries), Xasan Diiriye - Qaraami (Love), Dur Dur Band Feat. Sahra Dawo - Gorof (Elixir), Sharaf Band Feat. Xaawo Hiiraan - Kadeed Badanaa Naftaydani (My Life Is Full of Tribulations), 4 Mars - Na Daadihi (Guide Us), Danan Hargeysa Feat. Mohamed Huro Abdihashi - Uur Hooyo (Mother's Womb), Sharero Band Feat. Faadumo Qaasim - Qays Iyo Layla (Romeo ; Juliet), Waaberi (Composed By: Said Mohamed Harawo) - Oktoobar Waatee? Waa Taayadii (What's October? It's Ours), Danan Hargeysa Feat. Mohamed Huro Abdihashi - Mama, Dur Dur Band Feat. Muqtar Idi Ramadan - Duruuf Maa Laygu Diidee (Rejected Due to My Circumstance), Iftiin Band Feat. Mahmud Abdalla Jerry Hussen - Anaa Qaylodhaanta
Double vinyl LP pressing. 2017 collection. In 1988, on the eve of a two decade civil war, Somalia's authoritarian ruler Siad Barre launched punishing air strikes on the north of the country, known today as Somaliland, in response to agitations for independence. The bombing leveled the entire city. Barre targeted Radio Hargeisa to prevent any kind of central communication system that could organize a resistance. With the attack imminent, a few brave radio operators and dedicated vanguards of Somali culture knew the archives, containing over half a century of Somali music had to be preserved. Thousands upon thousands of cassette tapes and master reels were quickly removed from the soon-to-be targeted buildings. They were dispersed to neighboring countries like Djibouti and Ethiopia, and buried deep under the ground to withstand even the most powerful airstrikes. These audio artifacts were excavated and recalled from their foreign shelters only very recently. Some of those recordings are now kept safe in the 10,000-strong cassette tape archive of the Red Sea Foundation, the largest collection of Somali cassettes in the world, in Somaliland's capital, Hargeisa. This music was never made available for mass release. Almost all recorded material came from original masters or homemade recordings of radio broadcasts. As a result, most of it has never been heard outside Somalia and the immediate region. Nimco Jamaac - Buuraha U Dheer (The Highest Mountains), Aamina Camaari - Rag Waa Nacab Iyo Nasteexo (Men Are Cruel and Kind), Ali Nuur - Unknown, Hibo Nuura - Haddii Hoobalkii Gabay (If the Artist Let's You Down), Gacaltooyo Band Feat. Faduumina Hilowle - Ninkaan Ogayn (He Who Does Not Know), Iftiin Band Feat. Mahmud Abdalla Jerry Hussen ; Maryan Naasir - Xuduud Ma Leh Xubigaan (This Love Has No Boundaries), Xasan Diiriye - Qaraami (Love), Dur Dur Band Feat. Sahra Dawo - Gorof (Elixir), Sharaf Band Feat. Xaawo Hiiraan - Kadeed Badanaa Naftaydani (My Life Is Full of Tribulations), 4 Mars - Na Daadihi (Guide Us), Danan Hargeysa Feat. Mohamed Huro Abdihashi - Uur Hooyo (Mother's Womb), Sharero Band Feat. Faadumo Qaasim - Qays Iyo Layla (Romeo ; Juliet), Waaberi (Composed By: Said Mohamed Harawo) - Oktoobar Waatee? Waa Taayadii (What's October? It's Ours), Danan Hargeysa Feat. Mohamed Huro Abdihashi - Mama, Dur Dur Band Feat. Muqtar Idi Ramadan - Duruuf Maa Laygu Diidee (Rejected Due to My Circumstance), Iftiin Band Feat. Mahmud Abdalla Jerry Hussen - Anaa Qaylodhaanta