tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post3381147963423574869..comments2024-03-04T15:46:40.928-06:00Comments on Likembe: Somali Songs of the "New Era"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-78086736230757034122011-11-11T05:27:38.511-06:002011-11-11T05:27:38.511-06:00Thanks, Sanaag. I'm sorry to hear this sad ne...Thanks, Sanaag. I'm sorry to hear this sad news.John B.http://likembe.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-19438154416003939892011-11-10T15:58:53.227-06:002011-11-10T15:58:53.227-06:00Hello John, hope all is fine.
Sad news: Faadumo Q...Hello John, hope all is fine.<br /><br />Sad news: Faadumo Qaasim, featured in this post, passed away on 6 October 2011 in London, after a sudden and short sickbed (a couple of days) of which the cause couldn't be clarified. Her legacy, spanning over 5 decades, covered a wide range of topics - from protest and peacemaking songs to love ballads in Somali, Swahili, Arabic, Urdu, Chinese... - and remains one of the highest respected and most poignant in Somali music. Sh'll be grievously missed. AUN / R.I.P.!<br /><br /><br />- 1971: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh3zX03NhUU&feature=related<br /><br />- '80s/'90's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbvZaxkjxzc<br /><br />- Surprise: "Dalkeygow" straight from this post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVsd4F-FtzYSanaaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16748859280946181648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-54499162671572433352011-11-10T15:49:53.206-06:002011-11-10T15:49:53.206-06:00Hello John, hope all is fine.
Sad news: Faadumo Q...Hello John, hope all is fine.<br /><br />Sad news: Faadumo Qaasim, featured in this post, passed away on 6 October 2011 in London, after a sudden and short sickbed (a couple of days) of which the cause couldn't be clarified. Her legacy, spanning over 5 decades, covered a wide range of topics - from protest and peacemaking songs to love ballads in Somali, Swahili, Arabic, Urdu, Chinese... - and remains one of the highest respected and most poignant in Somali music. Sh'll be grievously missed. AUN / R.I.P.!<br /><br /><br />- 1971: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh3zX03NhUU&feature=related<br /><br />- '80s/'90's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbvZaxkjxzc<br /><br />- Surprise: "Dalkeygow" straight from this post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVsd4F-FtzYSanaaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16748859280946181648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-10080105550808497302011-04-10T12:07:55.980-05:002011-04-10T12:07:55.980-05:00I remember doing a recital in school (not for lite...I remember doing a recital in school (not for literature class but "Life Orientation"!) of Sipho Sepamla's poem "Da same da same" (where he echoes Shakespeare!)<br /><br />I mean for sure now<br />all da peoples is make like God<br />an' da God I knows for sure<br />He make avarybudy wit' one heart<br /><br />So now<br />You see a big terrible terrible <br />how one man make anader man feel<br />da pain he doesn't feel hisself<br />for sure no dats da whole point<br /><br />Sometime you wanna know how I meaning for<br />is simple<br />when da nail of say da t'orn tree<br />scratch little bit of da skin<br /><br />only one t'ing come for sure<br />red blood<br />dats for sure da same for avarybudy<br /><br />so for sure now<br />you doesn't look anader man in de eye<br /><br />My colleagues were certainly entertained by the accent I put on but unfortunately it seems too few of my brothers are listening to the message if they are able to set their neighbors on fire without feeling the slightest bit of shame<br /><br />The reports are the Amnesty one you referred to claiming poetry helped overthrow those in power and the one I linked earlier to alleging poetry assisted those in power.<br /><br />Peace to you comrade SanaagLove Letters Journalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03006836317438859035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-8148204566471227792011-04-08T05:13:54.626-05:002011-04-08T05:13:54.626-05:00You're wholeheartedly welcome! It's def. d...You're wholeheartedly welcome! It's def. deplorable that nowadays many people/governments don't see further than their backyard. I think Sipho Sepamla (fore)saw the implications of such a ravine as he includes all who share the same cause/ideals/values, irrespective of their specifics, by addressing them as the Blues People: <br /><br />I want to holler the how-long blues<br />Because we are the blues people all<br />The white man bemoaning his burden<br />The black man offloading the yoke<br />The blues is you in me<br /><br />All the best!<br /><br />P.S. "Here we have two reports basically saying the opposite thing!". Could you please give the titles of these reports or links online? Thanks!Sanaaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16748859280946181648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-64596659231408579992011-04-06T12:35:02.896-05:002011-04-06T12:35:02.896-05:00So you guys were all studying the Soweto brothers!...So you guys were all studying the Soweto brothers! Things have really changed... <br /><br />Dyani used to talk about how everything, from louis armstrong to fela kuti was all part of a common "great black music" - which was actually a widely held idea back then. <br /><br />We used to support the freedom struggles in Zimbabwe, in Mozambique, we used to read the literature from all over continent and beyond. <br /><br />Now it seems like people don't even care what happens to their neighbour, let alone the people of their neighbouring countries. <br /><br />It's moments like this, blogs like likembe and people like you that show me that those ancient fires have not been completely extinguished just yet - and this is why I have to thank you so strongly. <br /><br />Keep travelling the spaceways!Love Letters Journalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03006836317438859035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-77447597813885233282011-04-05T00:29:26.098-05:002011-04-05T00:29:26.098-05:00You make me blush,(wo)man! Don't worry, nobody...You make me blush,(wo)man! Don't worry, nobody can see the red dapples on my face. I'm really flattered!<br /><br />Before we'd to leave home, a colleague of mine was in the process of translating Sepamla's "The Soweto I Love" into Somali. I don't know if the project ever came to fruition but The Soweto Poetry movement, which was a compulsory part of the lit. curriculum in my schooldays, illuminated my soul when these unfortunate scapegoat-incidents were dominating the news. "The Blues is You in Me"! We'd never underestimate the healing powers of poetic hope and, in the face of petty man-made adversity, unity is definitely a way to go. <br /><br />Is that Johnny Dyani watching over your site? Wishing you all the best! Hamba kahle!Sanaaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16748859280946181648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-69264806291554475062011-04-04T14:46:23.634-05:002011-04-04T14:46:23.634-05:00Wow Sanaag! I don't know how to thank you for ...Wow Sanaag! I don't know how to thank you for this wonderfully detailed, considerate response - it's certainly more than I ever expected. <br /><br />Those links are excellent! Your insights and goodwill are an inspiration for me, so much so that I am determined to organise something here where I live using some of that insight.<br /><br />I think it's very relevant in South Africa, considering the current climate here, that one<br />of only noteworthy songs lyrics wise is in support of the<br />anti-apartheid struggle, and another about life as a refugee.<br /><br />There is a very nasty xenophobic attitude which has seen the grievences of the poor turned on foreigners who are used as scapegoats for the failure of "the rainbow nation" - and the successful Somalian shopowners have been especially targeted. <br /><br />Maybe poetry & song can be used to remind the people of their history - and the importance of unity!Love Letters Journalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03006836317438859035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-30860376365277750562011-04-04T10:41:21.210-05:002011-04-04T10:41:21.210-05:00"The subject of Somali poetry is fascinating ..."The subject of Somali poetry is fascinating though - any recomendations about where to start researching the topic?"<br /><br />Well, not much is published in foreign languages or online; try the following:<br /><br />1. Articles<br />- Several articles on poetry : http://www.mbali.info/docs.htm<br />- Introduction: alturl.com/wxqhe<br />- Nomenclature: alturl.com/jed87<br />- Translations: alturl.com/zu3q2<br />- About combat/duels online: alturl.com/z87ba<br />- A land of bards: alturl.com/7rmgk<br /><br />2. Books<br />- Anthology: alturl.com/hv9hy<br />- Nationalism: alturl.com/7zbwf<br />- Women's Voices in A Man's World: alturl.com/b9jwx<br />- War and peace: /alturl.com/jrvpj<br />- Therapeutic: alturl.com/isgo3<br /><br />Google books:<br />- Heelloy: modern poetry and songs of the Somali<br />- A Pastoral Democracy: a study of pastoralism and politics among the northern Somali of the Horn of Africa<br />- Songs and politics in Eastern Africa<br /><br />3. Younger generations:<br />- Poems: alturl.com/3awfp<br />- Forum: alturl.com/bwutj<br /><br />Hopefully you'll find in the above some helpful leads.<br /><br />Take care!Sanaaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16748859280946181648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-3497096725292009242011-04-04T10:39:22.408-05:002011-04-04T10:39:22.408-05:00Peace,
Thanks for the reaction! Unfortunately, I ...Peace,<br /><br />Thanks for the reaction! Unfortunately, I don't know what the report is called. I attended in 93 or 94 an evening in Amsterdam on the civil war in Somalia. One of the speakers was an AI representative who cited passages in that report, including a quote or more to the effect of my paraphrasing here. Unlike the foreigners, Somali attendees were not surprised as this is in line with what was already known. Throughout the Somali history, powerful people and institutions were ousted by means of (inflammatory) poetry. Even a single (misconstrued) poem called "Leexo" is believed to have brought down the Gov't in 1967 (tinyurl.com/3efn6y4). That's why I didn't bother about the AI report... until I wanted to look at it when I was writing the commentary for this post, but I couldn't find it online. Likewise, I remember that AI adopted in the 70s and 80s Somali artists and poet-playwrights, such as Abdi Muhumed Amin, as prisoners of conscience and campaigned for their release. Here again, I couldn't find anything online. This pre-digital-era material is apparently not (yet) digitized. Hopefully it'll be available soon and I'll let you know if I find it.<br /><br />It seems the report you've linked to is repeatedly taking short curves. The author may have been wrong-footed by lack of sources on the subject as he clearly bases his assertion solely on a short report from '91; it's also possible he just wanted to drive a specific point home... In any case, one can certainly find Somali poems and songs praising or denouncing a wide range of topics, including war and peace. Nevertheless, "dominance by force asserted in the battlefield and looting of those who are defeated" is not consistent with any Somali trad. value I know of. Quite on the contrary! While defending oneself is a strong value in Somali culture and the battles won are often lauded in poetic or prosaic forms (mainly serving as a historical record), treating the defeated equitably and mercifully is also applauded as a noble virtue and is often glorified.<br /><br />Traditionally, conflicts are normally tackled through a centuries-old customary law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xeer). Trad. courts don't have the means to enforce the law (effectively). In this light, I can imagine that looting may be excused only as a last resort, i.e. when an aggressor/looter refuses to make the compensations ordered by the court and is defeated in an ensuing conflict - with the restriction that the spoils shouldn't exceed the initial loss. Imo, that's not different from what modern powers do in comparable cases...Sanaaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16748859280946181648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-78174174366063136762011-04-04T10:29:35.769-05:002011-04-04T10:29:35.769-05:00Peace,
Thanks for the reaction! Unfortunately, I ...Peace,<br /><br />Thanks for the reaction! Unfortunately, I don't know what the report is called. I attended in 93 or 94 an evening in Amsterdam on the civil war in Somalia. One of the speakers was an AI representative who cited passages in that report, including a quote or more to the effect of my paraphrasing here. Unlike the foreigners, Somali attendees were not surprised as this is in line with what was already known. Throughout the Somali history, powerful people and institutions were ousted by means of (inflammatory) poetry. Even a single (misconstrued) poem called "Leexo" is believed to have brought down the Gov't in 1967 (tinyurl.com/3efn6y4). That's why I didn't bother about the AI report... until I wanted to look at it when I was writing the commentary for this post, but I couldn't find it online. Likewise, I remember that AI adopted in the 70s and 80s Somali artists and poet-playwrights, such as Abdi Muhumed Amin, as prisoners of conscience and campaigned for their release. Here again, I couldn't find anything online. This pre-digital-era material is apparently not (yet) digitized. Hopefully it'll be available soon and I'll let you know if I find it.<br /><br />It seems the report you've linked to is repeatedly taking short curves. The author may have been wrong-footed by lack of sources on the subject as he clearly bases his assertion solely on a short report from '91; it's also possible he just wanted to drive a specific point home... In any case, one can certainly find Somali poems and songs praising or denouncing a wide range of topics, including war and peace. Nevertheless, "dominance by force asserted in the battlefield and looting of those who are defeated" is not consistent with any Somali trad. value I know of. Quite on the contrary! While defending oneself is a strong value in Somali culture and the battles won are often lauded in poetic or prosaic forms (mainly serving as a historical record), treating the defeated equitably and mercifully is also applauded as a noble virtue and is often glorified.<br /><br />Traditionally, conflicts are normally tackled through a centuries-old customary law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xeer). Trad. courts don't have the means to enforce the law (effectively). In this light, I can imagine that looting may be excused only as a last resort, i.e. when an aggressor/looter refuses to make the compensations ordered by the court and is defeated in an ensuing conflict - with the restriction that the spoils shouldn't exceed the initial loss. Imo, that's not different from what modern powers do in comparable cases.<br /><br />Where to start? Not much is published in foreign languages or online; try the following:<br /><br />1. Articles<br />- Several articles on poetry : http://www.mbali.info/docs.htm<br />- Introduction: alturl.com/wxqhe<br />- Nomenclature: alturl.com/jed87<br />- Translations: alturl.com/zu3q2<br />- About combat/duels online: alturl.com/z87ba<br />- A land of bards: alturl.com/7rmgk<br /><br />2. Books<br />- Anthology: alturl.com/hv9hy<br />- Nationalism: alturl.com/7zbwf<br />- Women's Voices in A Man's World: alturl.com/b9jwx<br />- War and peace: /alturl.com/jrvpj<br />- Therapeutic: alturl.com/isgo3<br /><br />Google books:<br />- Heelloy: modern poetry and songs of the Somali<br />- A Pastoral Democracy: a study of pastoralism and politics among the northern Somali of the Horn of Africa<br />- Songs and politics in Eastern Africa<br /><br />3. Younger generations:<br />- Poems: alturl.com/3awfp<br />- Forum: alturl.com/bwutj<br /><br />Hopefully you'll find in the above some helpful leads.<br /><br />Take care!Sanaaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16748859280946181648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-46142668430615216152011-04-02T18:39:15.191-05:002011-04-02T18:39:15.191-05:00Brilliant! Thanks John for the music. Thank you al...Brilliant! Thanks John for the music. Thank you also Sanaag for the words!<br /> <br />" according to an Amnesty International report dating from early 90's, poetry (and not the warlords) was the foremost weapon that tumbled the Somali military regime from it's high and haughty throne!" <br /><br />I find this amazing. Do you remember what the report was called? I'd love to see a copy. Also, what do you have to say to this <br /><br />"This political culture [of warlords] is consistent with Somali traditional values and with oral poetry that praises dominance by force asserted in the battlefield and looting of those who are defeated"<br /><br />which I read in another report here:http://pi.library.yorku.ca/ojs/index.php/refuge/article/viewFile/21676/20349<br /><br />Here we have two reports basically saying the opposite thing!<br /><br />The subject of Somali poetry is fascinating though - any recomendations about where to start researching the topic?<br /><br />Thanks and peaceLove Letters Journalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03006836317438859035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-39888135545798109212010-08-19T02:46:47.982-05:002010-08-19T02:46:47.982-05:00@Perrata 2000,
this is in fact not totally true. S...@Perrata 2000,<br />this is in fact not totally true. Somaliland has a government since 1991. And just recently it experienced a peaceful and democratic change of power after elections.<br /><br />@John, I just discovered this post today (I was too busy during the last weeks). I think I have some of the recordings on cassettes. But since these cassettes are usually without any information expect the name of the interpret (in most cases Fadumo Qasim), it is difficult to do anything with it. So your contribution is highly welcomed!Andreas Wetterhttp://www.kezira.de/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-76995323394519243232010-08-09T15:59:23.317-05:002010-08-09T15:59:23.317-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Perrata 2000https://www.blogger.com/profile/12563854776536610061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-56970662354137949372010-08-09T13:10:32.207-05:002010-08-09T13:10:32.207-05:00Really an awesome tape! Doesn't happen often I...Really an awesome tape! Doesn't happen often I find good Somali music on the web. If you have the opportunity please, please post more ...<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-27296238472237642532010-08-08T22:48:53.426-05:002010-08-08T22:48:53.426-05:00So good!So good!Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05492128156733722102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-45817718648897463862010-08-08T18:08:53.008-05:002010-08-08T18:08:53.008-05:00John, an old friend mailed me this: http://hypem.c...John, an old friend mailed me this: http://hypem.com/list/5310 . Based on the number of listeners who loved the tracks on that site, it seems the posting is already quite popular.<br /><br />Take care,<br />SanaagSanaaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16748859280946181648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-28327847817136998832010-08-08T10:27:03.179-05:002010-08-08T10:27:03.179-05:00Congrats on Jammagica's second birthday. It j...Congrats on <i>Jammagica</i>'s second birthday. It just so happens that tomorrow (August 9) is the 3rd anniversary of <i>Likembe</i>. I'm not planning anything special though.John B.http://likembe.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-39867284279907401832010-08-08T03:08:56.904-05:002010-08-08T03:08:56.904-05:00I love this record !!! Your post is of course '...I love this record !!! Your post is of course 'best post this week' on >jammagica< for the second anniversary of the blog , what a gift, thankxxL !Z j A khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08082754425877310911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-30947222853484633642010-08-08T03:05:21.103-05:002010-08-08T03:05:21.103-05:00Compliment John , what a masterpiece ! All the bes...Compliment John , what a masterpiece ! All the bestZ j A khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08082754425877310911noreply@blogger.com