Guduudo Carwo & Cabdullaahi Qarshe: Anticolonial Songs (1950s)

A few pro-independence tracks originally recorded by Radio Hargeysa in the 1950s. Shamis Abokor (Guduudo Carwo) & Cabdillaahi Maxamuud (Qarshe) were among the pioneers of the modern/popular Somali music that was spearheaded by the dhaanto in the 1930s and, mainly, the balwo & heello and their multiple subgenres in the 1940s. All the tracks on this post belong to the latter two styles.

The epithet 'modern' denotes, in my view, that the shortened songs were played by innovative artists on mainly non-Somali instruments and aired on the newly-established radios, which often employed the musicians. The older Somali music is more sophisticated as it uses a wider variety of centuries-old traditional instruments, singing modes, scales, (sub)genres, dance techniques etc. Unfortunately there were, before the 1940s, no/hardly any facilities to record, broadcast or distribute music. All was live and localised, except the touring artists who were largely hindered by the long distances and dearth of adequate transportation or funding.

This live session comes from Francesco Giannattasio, professor of ethnomusicology at the Sapienza University in Rome. He recorded it during one of his fieldwork researches on Somali music in the 1980s.

1. Hurdaa Lay Diidee ("I'm Chronically Sleep-Deprived [Because of Colonialism]")


2. Gar Weeye Inaad Ka Gubataaye ("You've Every Right to Rise Up")


3. Qabanqaabiyoo Wax Ila Qabo ("Help Me to Organize [the Struggle for Independence]")


4. Ragaadayoo Roob ("The Rains are Delayed/Longing for Liberation")


5. Hobyo Hereriyo Hawaasta Galbeed Hadmay ["When will the Colonially Partitioned Regions of Somalia Join Hands?]"


6. Dadkan Dhawaaqayaa ("The People are Shouting [for Freedom]")


7. Baxnaanada Dheeri Waa Bilaw ("Taking Care [of My Country] Has Just Started") 


Enjoy!

Nightmares of The Don, The Strutting Naked Emperor