Music of Somalia

At first listen, Somali music might be mistaken for the sounds of nearby regions such as Oromo in Ethiopia, Sudan or the Arabian Peninsula, but it is ultimately recognizable by its own unique tunes and styles.

Somali songs are usually the product of collaboration between lyricists (lahamiste), songwriters (abwaan), and vocalists (odka or "voice").

[1] The riverine and coastal areas of Somalia use a wide variety of traditional instruments including:[3][4][5] Somali popular music began with the balwo style, pioneered by Abdi Sinimo, who rose to fame in the early 1940s.

There were many protest songs produced during this period, pioneered by the people of Somaliland who were trying to gain independence from the government of Somalia, especially the genocidal Barre regime.

Others, like Ahmed Ali Egal, Maryam Mursal and Waayaha Cusub have fused traditional Somali music with pop, rock and roll, bossa nova, jazz, and other modern influences.

The Barre dictatorial regime effectively nationalised the music scene, with bands and production under state control.