July 4, 2020

At the front I was finally free

Sahra Halgan first got serious about singing when she was a 16 year old nurse serving at the front line of Somalia's civil war.  She says, "At the front I was finally free.  The soldiers had other things to do than forbid me to sing."

In 1988, her country's air force dropped bombs on her hometown, Hargeisa, driving Sahra and many others into exile.  She stayed in France for 24 years, working as a janitor in a public school (among other jobs) and developing her music.

Sahra moved back to Hargeisa after the civil war ended in 2012 and opened the first post-war music venue in Somalailand (Somalia's northwest province which seceded from the failed state in 1991).  Her second album was released in March and it's remarkable, although no more remarkable than her life story.  You'll hear the Sahra Halgan Trio's new music this week on Global A Go-Go.

Also this week (Monday July 6, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): a short survey of nyabinghi drumming in Jamaican popular music, the best Balkan brass album of the year is from Finland of all places, 35 years of South African dance music in three songs, the marvelous guitar music of Angola called semba, and a brand-new single from Austin's Superfonicos.

Podcast: radio4all.net/index.php/program/106080
All the podcasts: radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go


Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year

Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001

Ras Michael | Jamaica-USA | Press Along Saints | Live By The Spirit | Hen House Studios | 2020
The Folkes Brothers | Jamaica | Oh Carolina | Oh Carolina - single | Buster Wild Bells | 1960
Don Drummond & The Ska-talites | Jamaica | Addis Ababa | Addis Ababa - single | Coxsone | 1964

Jaakko Laitinen & Vaara Raha | Finland | Omalla Lomalla | Borek | Playground Music Finland | 2020
Esma Redzepova & Stevo Teodosievski Ensemble | North Macedonia | Chaje Shukarije | Esma: Queen Of The Gypsies | World Connection | 1998
Dzambo Agusevi Orchestra | North Macedonia | Sikadem (Dzambo's version) | Brasses For The Masses | Asphalt Tango | 2020
Fanfare Ciocarlia | Romania | Golden Days | Gili Garabdi: Ancient Secrets Of Balkan Brass | Asphalt Tango | 2005

Splash | South Africa | Peacock | Peacock | Gallo | 1986
Mandoza & M'du | South Africa | 50/50 | Godoba | CCP | 2001
Keleketla! | South Africa- England UK-Nigeria-USA-West Papua Indonesia | Future Toyi Toyi (gqom version) | Future Toyi Toyi - single | Ahead Of Our Time | 2020

Carlos Lamartine | Angola | Faco-Te Este Apelo, Camarada | Angola Ano 1 | CDA | 1975
Urbano De Castro & Os Kiezos | Angola | Fatimita | Fatimita - single | Ngoma | 1975
Chalo Correia | Angola-Portugal | Chercher Crioula | Kudihohola / Chercher Crioula - single | Matasuna | 2015
Alliace Makiadi | Angola | Passeio Por Luanda | Ester Madona / Passeio Por Luanda - single | N'Gola | 1975
David Ze | Angola | Uma Amiga | Kuala Kituche / Uma Amiga - single | Rebita | 1973

Sahra Halgan Trio | Somaliland-France | Masalo | Waa Dardaaran | Buda Musique | 2020
Sahra Halgan Trio | Somaliland-France | Alaah | Waa Dardaaran | Buda Musique | 2020
Sahra Halgan Trio | Somaliland-France | Kiidhaba | Waa Dardaaran | Buda Musique | 2020
Sahra Halgan Trio | Somaliland-France | Talo | Waa Dardaaran | Buda Musique | 2020

Superfonicos | USA | El Adios | El Adios - single | Public Hi-Fi | 2020
Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso Y Los Que Son, Son | Cuba | Disco Azucar | Pupy El Buenagente | Pimienta | 2005
La Mambanegra | Colombia | Me Parece Perfecto | La Galeria | self-released | 2016

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