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
