Somalia

Don’t get the idea that West Africa was the only place that was obsessed with American-style R&B. Every African country had its own practitioners, some of them quite original. Ethiopia in particular created its own fusion of soul & traditional music that has drawn international acclaim.Well, Somalia had some of its own Funkateer groups, one of the finest being Iftin.

Iftin (meaning sunshine) was a great funk band of the 70s & 80s based in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, from where most of the band members originated. Initially, they made theaters & schools unsafe with their brand of slow dance music. The most well known Iftin lead singers were the late Axmed Rabsha Cawad, Abdullahi Sulfa, Bashir Ali Hussein & Shimaali.

Keep in mind that this cassette was produced in the do-it-yourself spirit that is common throughout Africa. It was no doubt duplicated on a boom box, so the sound quality isn't terrific. I think you'll agree, though, that the quality of the music outweighs this technical drawback.

 Iftin – Gabar ii Noqee& Other Tastes, self-recorded cassette. 1970-80??? 

decryption code in comments

Side A –

Gabar ii Noqee (Be my Wife) aka Ohiyee Ohiyee (Yeah, Yeah)

Codkeennii Kala Halow (Our Voices Have Lost Each Other)

Haka Yeelin Nacabkeenna (Don't Heed Our Enemies [or those who are against our love])

Lamahuraan (Love is Indespensible) aka Sida Laba Walaalaa (Like Two Siblings)

                                                           akaQays & Layla (Romeo & Juliet)

Weynoow (My Great Love) aka Ciil Kaambi (Sorrow & Bitterness [due to frustrated love])

Side B –

Jacayl Iima Roona (Love is Not Right for Me [now])

Hir Aanii Dhowyen ma Halabsado (Longing to Bridge the Big Distance)

                                                         aka Ruuney (Oh, Ruun [a Somali female name])

Caashaqa Maxay Baray? (Why Get Acquainted With Love?) 

                                          note: Sahra Dawo of the Dur Dur Band is the singer here.

Baddaa Doon Baa Maraysoo (A [fragile] Boat is Rocking on that Ocean)

Toban Weeye Shaqalladu (The Ten Vowels)

We got the Funk,

NØ