Blending East African, Bollywood and Arab music traditions, Groupe RTD’s “The Dancing Devils of Djibouti” is not only a stunning album, it is also the first internationally-released recording of music from this small and isolated country. By Richard Marcus The Dancing Devils of Djibouti is the latest album from the Ostinato Record label to explore East...
August 20, 2026
Category: Somali Music
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Eight years after bombing, Somalia reopens national theatre
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Eight years after a suicide bomber destroyed the building, Somalia has reopened its imposing national theatre in Mogadishu as a symbol of culture in the heart of a city often defined by violence. The theatre, whose stage is underpinned by bright yellow pillars and is decorated in the light blue of the...
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Djibouti’s Groupe RTD make international ‘Dancing Devils’ album debut
By:Alison HirdFollow Djibouti is better known as a strategic outpost than a hotbed of music but Groupe RTD, the country’s national radio band, are one of its best kept secrets. By day they play at official ceremonies, off duty they let rip their love of American jazz, Indian Bollywood, Jamaican reggae and Somali funk. For the first time ever an...
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Somali herders in Puntland produce animal fodder to boost drought-resilience
Agro-pastoralists in the Somali state of Puntland have begun using machines to produce animal fodder for use in times of drought that often wipes out livestock in the region. Mohamoud Mohamed Osman, an agro-pastoralist farming maize, beans, and vegetables on 50-hectares in Hinhor in Mudug region, told Radio Ergo that he normally has to buy...
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Tumis Xeeldheer: Xudeydi, Noloshiisii Cuudka & Waayo Kale
W/Q. Bare Sare Axmed I. SamatarTurjumid: Cabdiqani Ismaaciil & Cabdicasiis Guudcadde Wuxuu mudnaanta kala mid yahay qof kasta oo Soomaali ah oo sameeyey wax qarankiisu ku faani karo. Isaga oo weli dheer, dhabarkiisu toosan yahay, tallaabadiisu xooggan tahay, maskaxdiisuna si buuxda u soo jeeddo, cuudyahanka ugu weyn Soomaalida ee hadda nool, Axmed Ismaaciil Xuseen (Xudeydi),...
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Hudeidi: The Somali ‘king of oud’ who was felled by coronavirus
Ahmed Ismail Hussein Hudeidi, a founding father of modern Somali music, died in London after contracting coronavirus at the age of 91. The BBC’s Mary Harper was a friend of his. Whenever Hudeidi played his oud, it was impossible to keep still. Bodies swayed, hands clapped and fingers snapped. His music was transporting and somehow...
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Ahmed Ismail Hussein, Venerable Somali Musician, Dies at 91
Famously known as the “King of Oud,” Mr. Hussein was considered one of the giants of modern Somali music. He had the novel coronavirus. By Abdi Latif Dahir Ahmed Ismail Hussein, whose sweet-stringed and melancholic melodies captivated generations of Somalis and made him one of Somalia’s most important musicians, died on Tuesday in London. He was...
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Somalia: Bomb blast outside capital Mogadishu kills 3
2 also wounded in attack on convoy guarding road construction workers, say police Mohammed dhaysane MOGADISHU, Somalia, At least three Somali government soldiers were killed and two wounded when a bomb blast targeted a security convoy on the outskirts of the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, officials said. The attack took place in the vicinity of...
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6 African peacekeeping soldiers killed in Somalia
Soldiers from Burundi attacked in Balad district, killing 6 and injuring 3 others Jean Bosco BUJUMBURA, Burundi,Atleast six soldiers from East African country of Burundi, were killed in an attack near Somali capital Mogadishu, an official said. The soldiers were part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). “Elements of the al-Shabaab terrorist group...
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Ethiopian Air ‘moving forward’ with growth plans after Boeing 737 Max crash
Deena Kamel Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s champion carrier that suffered a fatal Boeing 737 Max crash in March, is ”moving forward” with its expansion following the disaster but will be the last operator to return the jet to service. The Addis Abbaba-based airline is optimistic it can ‘scale up’ its ambitious growth plans as the carrier’s...