- Story was Posted to the web May 30 2005 08:42
Welcome! I have lots from Somaliland, Shaheera Asante
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May 30 2005 When I told my family, friends and anyone for that matter, I was going to Somaliland, the reaction was the same: 'Where? Shaheera, surely you mean Somalia.' - 'No, Somaliland.'
LISTEN TO Somaliland a Relative Story  |
- In March this year, I travelled to Hargeisa, a dusty, busy and vibrant city - and Somaliland's capital. We were there to record a documentary for Radio 3, about this unknown and unrecognized African country and its connection to Wales - where there has been a Somali community for over 100 years.
Not forgetting my beloved, Africa on Your Street, I thought I'd check out the Somali music scene. Unlike other African countries, music was not blaring from every street corner. Due to it being an Islamic state, music is not banned but its presence is subdued. There is however, a lively scene of musicians, writers, poets and creative types made up of locals and expats who have returned from as far away as Australia to rebuild Somaliland.
The music of Somaliland is hard to describe. It's a mixture of Arab, Indian and North African rhythms. Traditional sounds originate from the rural areas, where most of the country's population lived for hundreds of years.
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Story Posted By M Ghalib Musa
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