Naima Samih is an icon in the world of Moroccan songs, she is one of its early pioneers. She entered the singing business when there was only men in that industry, she sang and impressed people. Thus she earned her stripes in this traditional society. She had to struggle with the men of her family so lunch her career, she did start in the late sixties and flourished in the early seventies.
At first she sang with no music to avoid upsetting the religious folks as she was no in position to battle them. She owned the local Moroccan song and took it into new territories. The slower song is her shtick. Among her most known hits is Jarabit We Jareet a song that deserves to be heard by more people--no different that Warda or Mayada really.
She is a mixture of Arab and north African tribes, she continues to make music and live in a small town. She is a frequent guest in local music festivals.
More Beautiful Than Silence was well received by critics where each track sounds completely different from the last, and although the record could be a pop smash, his message is never diluted in the melody. K’Naan has the skills where his music packs creative melodies, poetic storytelling, and the aspiration of an entire generation. soaring dreams on More Beautiful Than Silence. Die hard fans fans will love this musical treat, but the reality remains, are we ready for his next big thing? I do not think we are as a full project form this rapper will make waves in the rap industry.
I am comfortable to claim that his poetic lyrics come from his bringing and his culture where Arabia intersects Africa creating a beautiful lyrical miracles that were picked by young K'naan. The american culture provided him with rap as a tool to get those raging emotions out So far he has claimed a place in mainstream Hip-Hop. As far as messaging in music and imagery, I think he can rival household names of the likes Bob Dylan. Since K’naan’s mission is to inspire global change, he’ll welcome mainstream success; if it gets his message to the ears of more listeners, and encourages them to dream big. He is a star that world needs right now...as transfroation in the Middle East, America, Europe and the rest of the world is changing, K’naan brings a teaser for the future of entertainment.
K'naan fuses a wide array of styles and rhythms to deliver his African-influenced rap. He is already Africa's most famous native song rapper when his upbeat tune "Wavin' Flag" became a global hit after it was chosen as the official Coca-Cola anthem for the 2010 South Africa World Cup. A turning point in K'naan's career came as he stood in front of some of the world's most powerful men, stopped his performance to recite a politically-charged poem, blasting the U.N. for its failed relief mission in Somalia." This was a risky business, but K'naan had nothing to lose. After a brief moment of silence, he has earned himself an standing ovation.
Aside form his talent, the rapper comes with a grand story of survival so real and so shocking that it makes most inner city rappers look like they are form Kansas. This is guy who lived in a war zone and moved into another one where most people tel of a rough life. No questions about it, the lyrically gifted rapper just can't help being a one-upper which makes him a perfect candidate for the job.
Some have argued that K'naan should hone a message where he would tell his young fans "I did, you can too" message that could help make him a more accessible role model. He comes across as a rapper with a lot of faith as he makes reference to God very often. The internet is filled with K'naan's opinions of war peace and love too. But I think he still has a long way to go to trade in his microphone for a role model.
"War has a way of making life painfully factual and love has a way of making life completely painfully dreamy, and I wanted to try to be honest about where I'm at in life," adds K'naan,
K'naan- More beautiful than silence [with lyrics]
Lyrics: turn the light off there's a light on in your heart so let it be your guidens, guidens! Open up your mouth if what you say could be more beautiful than silence ok, ain't it funny how the talkers always talkin' never firing, but always say they cocking and they cocky until they in the parking lots suddenly they got parkinsons, they can hardly talk. no karate buddy, no pilates buddy it's a new game, no Atari buddy body chalk, well i'm used to bodies chopped i've seen shit to give new meaning to the body shop look, i know you think i'm so righteous but mother fucker, i'm also into rifles tryna tell these niggas i'm a baby in his diapers i'm on my own shit, lighters i don't disseminate, i got my name in... i don't discriminate, i got friends who are snipers but some of them ended up being lifeless cause they kept silent, survivors. turn the light off there''s a light on in your heart so let it be your guidens, guidens! open your mouthy, if you would say could be more beautiful than silence. i'm the quiet type, breathe and steady never small talk speak when necessary in the streets, i see niggers chops with machetes my jamaican girl say 'talk to me baby!' what''s on your mind can't say ... ..death do its part, memories, i marry got a library with no lies baby and all the books look like they're made of strawberries. it ain't easy being me cause my own fans can't relate to my streets and my streets can't relate to those in the east but i'm beats, so i make bread on release. I'm releasing my demons, give the beat it's life like I give a fetus semen. feel the kick in your belly, that's freedom breathing don't say nothing, cause now we're dreaming! turn the light off it's a light on in your heart so let it be your guides, guides! open your mouthy, if you would say could be more beautiful than silence, silence. oh, oh, oh, silence, silence oh, oh, oh, silence, silence oh, oh, oh, silence, silence oh, oh, oh, silence, silence
I first heard a word of him by one activist friend of mine who has been listening to this young rapper whom he referred to as dope! Then I read a blog post by him on the Somali pirates where he made the case for some of those pirates. I liked his point about how European ships having been stealing the fish resources off the coast of Somali.
K'naan put the pirate activities are put in context. That was 2009, and by 2010 K'naan was the star of Choice for Coke. They picked him to do the official Coke song in time for the World Cup in South Africa. K'naan took the coke deal and did well. Part of his contract was to appear with a number of local and global stars in doing marketing duets for the company. I know in our end Nancy Ajram did the song with him, but he went to every other country and did a song in the local language--he sang in English. Turkey, Russia and other places were on his map.
He did well for the company and was a clear choice as he would go and do all sorts of concerts...and by that he established his global brand. And thus his music followed.
A bit of information on the talented rap master:
K'naan's namesake means "traveler" in Somali, but it's a significant name in Palestine too--The natives of Palestine track themselves to their great father who was named K'naan.
K'naan was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, just as the civil unrest began to shake things off in his beloved motherland. Surival was the key thing for K'naan, his father was living in the States at the time and would send his young song rap songs all the way form the land of rap. K'naan would tune in and eventually pick his trade. At the tender age of 13 K'naan and his family mange to find their way to America to live in Harlem, shortly aftetr they would move to Ontario Canada to join a large Somali community up North. There K'naan picked up English and as he was confident he started spiting lyrics.
As most rappers would attest, skipping school plays K'naan hit the road and started performing in various venues part of the Direct Current Media. His biggest break came in the UN as he performed in 1999 in Geneva where K'naan would pile on the international organizations efforts in Somalia. There K'naan left an impression on a Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour. Youssou would later ask K'naan to contribute to his 2001 album Building Bridges. This project K'naan was able to tour a number of cities around the world.
Some of the names that K'naan collaborated with included Mos Def and Talib Kweli and a performance at the Live 8. Several collaborations and few years later cmae his much celebrated album Troubadour became K'naan's first for the major-label album. After his track "Wavin' Flag" became the anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. K'naan would follow that byMore Beautiful Than Silence EP arrived in 2012.
Oud player Brandon Terzic has put together a great group of musicians, featuring jazzman Matt Darriau (of Paradox Trio fame) on saxophone, kaval, and other wind instruments. Also featured is Matt Kilmer, one of NYC's top percussionists, and Peter Slavov, who currently plays bass with the legendary saxophonist Joe Lovano.
This music has a much more pronounced African influence than most oud music. Terzic spent time in Morocco and has clearly spent a great deal of time absorbing the rhythms and sounds of sub-Saharan Africa as well. The tunes allow a lot of room for improvisation--almost a jam-band type of ethos, as if the Grateful Dead or Phish had come instead from Sudan. Xalam strives for a danceable, feel-good sound, which it achieves—this is a fun album. It's still serious music, however: the musicianship and performances are excellent, by first-rate musicians.
Mohammad Hisham Mahmoud Mohammad Abbas (Arabic: محمد هشام محمود محمد عباس) was born on September 13, 1963 in Cairo, Egypt. He is commonly known as just Hisham Abbas (Arabic: هشام عباس). He is an Egyptian pop singer best known for his hit song Nari Narain.He had his primary education in Dar El Tefl school. He was home-schooled for his secondary education & GCE. Later on he enrolled in American University in Cairo as he graduated with a major in Mechanical Engineering. He decided to pursue art as his profession rather than Engineering.Abbas took his first step as a professional singer being a member of Pats Band band with his partner in the band Aliaa Saleh and other friends. They covered a number of Egyptian and Arabic classing songs, such as "Halawet Shamsena", "Ala Remesh Oyonha", "El Wala Dah" and more. Then he met up with widely-known producer and singer Hameed El Shaery. They collaborated to produce successful songs that highlighted Abbas' position in the music scene. Songs like "Halal Aleik", "Allah Yesalem Halak", "Habetah", and "Saea Albak".Abbas' career bloomed later on to release several songs. He rose in the early 1990s with successful hits like "Wana Wana Wana", "Eineha El Sood", "Ta'ala", "Ya Leila", "Shoofi" and his most successful hit, "Habibi Dah (Nari Narain)". Up to this day, he has 10 solo studio albums in his account. He received a number of awards, the most notable one was Orbit's Arabic Song Award in 1997. He collaborated later on with Hamid El Shaery several times. As Hamid featured him in the hit "Einy" which featured Lebanese model, now singer, Nicole Saba. The song became a huge success, and it was extremely popular in the mid 1990's.A few years later Abbas got married and had two children Ali and Yasmina in 2007 he had another baby called Tamara. WIKIPEDIA
Malika was born in Southern Morocco, in a little village called Ouled Teima. Her father's family was originally from M'Hamid, an oasis just off the Sahara, while her mother was a Berber from the High Atlas. During her early childhood, there was always music and dancing in the house and Malika sang almost from babyhood. After her family emigrated to a suburb of Paris, she found herself straddling two very different societies. “I had to be French at school yet retain my Moroccancultural heritage at home, she recalls, Like many immigrantchildren, I learned to switch quickly between the two. It was hard but brought me a lot of good things too”. http://www.moroccousa.com
AmalMaher is one of the rising, talented Egyptian young singers.Amal Maher grew up with only one sound Oum Kalthoum’s. Seduced by “Essit” art, she dreamed of a heady singing career. It was her husband, Mohamed Diae” who gave her the opportunity to achieve her childhood dream by proposing her a song and a music video. “Ely Binak W Binha” was a great success and was aired on all music TV Channels earning Amal Maher the recognition she sought and huge sales on her album.
The Tunisian singerSaber el Rubai has a very nice voice. He is very elegant, sensitive and honest with himself and with his audience. He was born on the 12th of March in Tunisia. He started singing when he was twelve years old, encouraged by his family for his father played the Oud and his brother was a singer. Besides singing, Saber plays the Oud and the violin.He started the singing as his profession at 17 years old impressed by great singers among which Mohammad Abd El Wahab, Abd El Kader El Asaly, Wadih Al Safi, Abd El Halim Hafez, Karem Mahmoud. Saber composed some of his songs’ melodies among which the song “Word” (Kalima) with an outstanding rhythm. His work with Hilmi Baker, Salah El Charnoubi and Dr Abd El Rab Idriss was a great success. Great singers such as Sayyed Makkawi and Warda were very impressed by his voice.
Hakim was born in Maghagha, a small town in Al Minya, Egypt. Hakim grew up with the sound of working-class tradition of Sha'bi; the root of southern Egyptian. He became influenced by the great Sha'bi singerAhmed Adaweyah and began practicing Mawals, the vocal improvisations which begin a traditional Sha'bi song.[2] At fourteen years old he formed a band and started performing at local parties and school functions with the accompaniment of a tabla, duff, and an accordion, playing covers of classic Sha'bi hits by Ahmed Adaweya, Mohamed El Ezabi, and Abdel Ghani Al Sayed. Soon the band was a hit and expanded by adding keyboards and drums and performing all over the Minya province.His father, the mayor of Maghagha, wished that he would get a higher degree, and although Hakim loved singing, and wanted it to be his career, he bowed to his father’s wishes and attended the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, graduating in 1983 with a degree in communications. But while in the capital, he kept up his musical interests, meeting new people at the cafes on Mohammed Ali Street, including the accordionist Ibrahim El Fayoumi, who became like a god father to him.Source WIKIPEDIA
Dolly Joseph Abu Shahine commonly known as Dolly Shahine (born July 2, 1985 in Sebney, Lebanon) is a Lebanese singer and actress. She rose to fame in 2005 with her role in the Egyptian movie Wija as the femme fatale. In 2008 speculated by rumours she drew controversy and criticism that she had converted to Islam in order to obtain a divorce from her Catholic husband, Lebanese businessman Sami Qalib. In late 2008 an Egyptian court ruled in her favor for divorce.The daughter of Joseph Chahine and a Brazilian mother, Shahine's surname can be spelled Shaheen, Chahine, or Shahin. She currently she lives in Egypt.WIKIPEDIA
Youssra (Arabic: يسرا) is an Egyptian actress and singer. She was born Civene Nassim on March 10, 1955 in Cairo, Egypt.She first appeared in the 1980 film Athkiya laken aghbiya (1980. English: Smartest yet Stupidest). Increasingly popular with audiences in Egypt and across the Arab world, she went on to co-star with leading actor Adel Emam in several films.She has made a number of the serial television dramas popular during Ramadan, including 2005's Ahlam 'Adiya (Ordinary Dreams). She portrayed an enterprising con woman in what the English version of Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram called "a major departure from the star's usual Ramadan screen persona, which has consistently verged on the romantic and the demure." In 2006, she took a supporting role in The Yacoubian Building, a star-laden adaptation of the novel of the same name. The film is reported to have had the highest budget of any Egyptian production to date. Playing an entertainer working in a restaurant, Youssra, according to Variety, "effortlessly stirs old emotional waters when she sings 'La Vie en Rose.'" Youssra released her first vocal album in 2002.WIKIPEDIA
The Master Musicians of Jajouka is a group led by Bachir Attar, from the village of Jajouka near Ksar-el-Kebir in the southern Rif Mountains of Northern Morocco. The inhabitants of this small village are from the Ahl Sherif ("the saintly") tribe. The Attar clan of Jajouka is the founding family of Jajouka and keepers of one of the world’s oldest and most unique surviving musical traditions. The music and secrets of Jajouka have been passed down through generations from father to son, by some accounts for as long as 1,300 years. The musicians of Jajouka are taught from early childhood a complex music which is unique to Jajouka, until they finally become malims or masters. They possess baraka, (good luck) or the blessing of Allah, which gives them the power to heal, and the endurance required to play some of the most intense and complex music around. The Master Musicians of Jajouka are all descendants of one family, the Attars. Attar is a Sufi watchword and a deeply mystical name meaning "perfume maker". Rest on http://www.travel-exploration.com/subpage.cfm/Musicians_Of_Jajouka
Ahmed Amin (Arabic: أحمد أمين) (born in 1985) better known by his stage name Mc Amin and El-General, is a rapper from Mansoura City. He is considered the best of Egyptian rappers, mainly for his hardcore aggressive style and for his songs'themes, which express problems within many of Egyptians.Born in 1985 in Mansoura City, Mc Amin grew up in a middle classfamily. He studied in University Unions (Arabic: الجامعة العمالية), and after receiving his Baccalauréat, he started his career as an underground rapper . * In 1998 He started memorizing the lyrics of the songs he listened to and rap them while he was around his friends. That gave him the idea of creating his own lines with new beats. This was the start of having his own way of rapping. and it started to develope from a hobby to a serious part of his life. * 2004 was when he started to write his own lyrics in arabic and started to express his anger feelings through music. EveryBody were amazed[citation needed] by his talent and brave lyrics . His friends supported him all the way, which truely helped him more and more in becoming selfconfident.This Was Mc Amin Breaking-Through. * In 2007 Mc Amin decided to publish his own records. He created a band Called Black Attack dropping his first underground album Mc Amin VOL#1 - Black Attack. After his succeeded album he helped many young rappers to start writing and recording thier lyrics for the first time such as Kordy, F-Killa, Rakip and Mac-D. He organised them to a band called Arab Rap Soldiers, Dropping his second successful album Mc Amin VOL#2 - Arab Rap Soldiers. * 2008 was one of the most sucsessfully year in his career. He worked with alot of people, recorded a plenty of songs with known artists like Arabian Knightz, Wighit Nazar, Ahmed El Fishawy, Shadia Mansour and Fredwreck, He also had alot of big gigs and many guest appearances like the first summit of Mediterranean Hiphop Culture. and Desert Saga MixTape released by the end of 2008. WIKIPEDIA
Cheba Maria, Moroccan Raï music singer.Moroccan-born, Cheba Maria move to France in 1998 in order to make her musical career take off.Based in Toulouse, Cheba Maria charmed auditors with a strong voice and a joyful personality. Many artists were delighted to host her in their shows. Thus, she sang alongside Cheb Rachid « Enta Ould Bladi » in 1998 which was sold thousands of copies in many countries and especially in Morocco where Cheba Maria is more beloved. In 1999, Cheba Maria gave her public a new hit « Amalek a Zine », « Zinek Khater » in 2000 and « Rani Mghamra » in 2001.After having released « Jenetinie » 2003, Cheba Maria participated to the album Rain'b Fever by the single «Mon Bled » with Mohamed lamine and Rohff. The album sold 250.000 copies earned her a Sony Music contract and a first Gold.Featured with Hamid Bouchnak, Cheba Maria released in 2006 another big hit "Omry" http://en.hibamusic.com
Ali Hassan Kuban was an Egyptian musician. He was born in a small village in Nubia in 1929 or 1933 (sources differ on that point) and died in Cairo in 2001.Ali Hassan Kuban began his musical career as a child singing on the boats on the Nile. In 1942 he moved with his parents to Cairo where he learned to play several musical instruments.He played in several traditional Nubian bands and formed his own group which combined Western and traditional Nubian instruments and incorporated outside elements in the traditional Nubian music.Kuban quickly became a star for Nubians throughout Egypt. When he began to sing Arabian texts to Nubian melodies his fame spread to the Egyptian population in general and in the 90’s he began to gain international recognition.Last.Fm
Before graduating from the music academy in Egypt , he had already started .His musical career by composing songs for few of the famous singers , such as Amer Moneeb , Sherine and Fadl Shaker .Ramy sabry him self is a young singer whose future is blooming.In 2005 he encountered director tarek alrian who immediately decided to adopt ramy’s talent and to produce his first album << habiby al awalany >>3 videos were shot , Two of which were directed by Tarek Alarian and one by Moussa Eissa .Having launched his first album , Ramy participated in many musical events such as : live concerts , school proms and university welcome parties Eventually , Ramy began his success and has become a well known singer in Egypt . moreover , in the media field , he appeared in (3) biggest show programs in the middle east : taratata which was shot in paris , nagham and sekout hanghny He was even selected to be given some movie scripts to consider which he unfortunately turned down.In Ramy point of view , he wishes that Tarek Alarian direct his first film as he would most likely present Ramy in his best image
In 2008 , Rami worked hard to give us his second album But there has been a lot of problems, His musical album was leaked to websites and all his work lost in vain . Therefore, The album has bee postponed in the markets more than once . Ramy was racing against time to make his album see the light again , he make new songs for his album in a record time. Last.FM
Biyouna (Baya Bouzar) is an Algerian singer, dancer, actress born in 1952 in Belcourt, Algiers, Algeria.Inhabited by a very early passion for singing, she has been a member of several groups, first in Fadela Dziria's group where she played tambourine, and another that she directed with her accomplice Flifla, and finally her own where she is the main vocalist and has become sought after for wedding receptions.At the age of seventeen she began performing in some of the biggest cabarets in the city and at 19 started dancing at the 'Copacabana'.
Acting career
That same year, the director Mustapha Badie and the landmark makes it turn its first soap opera, where she sings the role of Fatma, La Grande Maison (1973), adapted from the novel by Mohamed Dib. The series will make famous.For the Algerian film, it runs two films: Leila and the other Sis Ali Mazi in 1978,Neighbor Ghaouti Bendedouche in 2000 and has performed in one-woman show . Biyouna in Viva LaldjérieAlmost more Algerian, Biyouna is the icon of a city that has never stopped moving despite political violence and the compromises of the various powers which have succeeded. His exuberant character and attitude impede frank indeed in some circles… It could be an eccentric character of Almodóvar, or one of those muses troubling that one crosses in old movies Fassbinder. Equally at home with his friends in Paris with transvestites Algiers whose special affection she is a free woman par excellence that devours the existence of all ends. She is in love with life, it emanates from it a force volcanic enthusiasm skin-deep and a philosophy epicurean. If current flows so well with his audience is that everyone, both men and women, recognizes himself in his songs that are vignettes from everyday life, small soap operas every day. The air of nothing, she slips her favorite themes, freedom, peace, hospitality, common sense. She speaks reports lovers, denounces intolerance, pettiness and stupidity, and does not rate as an opportunity to make fun of those who mingle affairs of others.In 1999, Nadir Moknèche offered him the role of Meriem in The Harem Madame Osmane she runs in France. This film will be followed by Viva Laldjéri in 2003.Blonde dans la Casbah
Music career
Meanwhile, Biyouna continues a singing career and released in 2001 an album of songs Raid Zone, directed by the composer John Bagnolett. After the success of the album Raid Zone and her participation in the role of Fellag Casbah Opera to be staged by Jerome Savary, Biyouna released a new album Blonde dans la Casbah. The idea for this album was in the air for a long time. Biyouna took her time, carefully selecting a directory franco-algérien that draws in both cultures. Around it, we must mention Joseph Racaille responsible for the arrangements, Christophe Dupouy regular partner Jean-Louis Murat in charge of mixing, not to mention her two "guardian angels": her agent Olivier Guzman, and her husband who knew Mokhtar ensure grain...She lives with her husband and four children in the suburbs of Algiers.WIKIPEDIA
Abdy, a recent signing to the V2 label, is typical of the young fusion generation currently emerging on the French music scene. Born in Morocco, but growing up in France, Abdy has always been plugged into two different musical cultures, so for him the mix of Western sounds and Oriental rhythms comes naturally. Abdy received a formal music training, studying at the local Conservatoire for several years before going on to form his own group, Abdy Jazzy-Raï. Abdy then launched a solo career, recording his debut album, Galbi, with the renowned musical arranger Safy Boutellah. Following in the footsteps of Turkish pop wonder Tarkan (whose 'look' has obviously influenced him), Abdy went on to launch Finek, a single aimed at the dance charts. But unfortunately for Abdy, the musical balance between East and West can be hard to find and his heavily pop-oriented album appears to be struggling to find an audience. http://www.rfimusique.com/musiqueen/articles/060/article_6605.asp
Intik (Arabic: أنتيك; pronounced: [æn.ti:k]) is an Algerian rap group consisting of four MCs. The group raps in both Algerian Arabic dialect and French and often drawing upon the violence all four experienced while growing up in turbulent Algeria during the 80s and 90s. The name Intik in Algerian dialect means “everything’s going great”, which is ironic considering the Algerian political unrest which the Intik focuses upon. Intik's front man is the rapper Youss (short for Youssef) with the other members being Reda, Samir, and Nabil.The four started rapping after experiencing the violence in Algeria in 1988, specifically at one protest in which the military opened fire on the assembled crowd of Algerians which included the to-be members of Intik. In an interview Youss discusses the moment when he knew he wanted to rap, "Because I saw [the events in Algeria October 5th, 1988]... I was scared I saw virulent violence with a capital 'V'. It was state terrorism as it's called. A military that shoots the people. And I witnessed it. I even have scars from that... I was young in '88... beaten by the police." This state-terrorism inspired Youss to write about the government. He asked questions and he states that “the more you asked questions, the more you discover. And when you didn’t ask questions, you discover nothing. As soon as you begin to reflect, you begin to have answers.” It’s from these answers that he got his lyrics from and then expressed it in rap. Reda, was already into rap. He was writing rhymes in Arabic as were Nabil and Samir as well. Youss was more into the reggae and ragga scene.The group Intik was founded when Algerian artist [Youss] (who was determined to leave Algeria at the time) joined with the group and just “buckled down and worked”. At the time, Youss was actually just trying to help these men “make a better life for themselves” by getting out of Algeria and heading to France. When Youss knew that he would be coming to France, he said that he wasn’t alone, and that he was a part of a group “just to get the visas”. The group rapped in both French and Arabic. In terms of obtaining rap to listen to when Youss was just beginning his rapping career, he said, “it was really difficult but we had ways of getting hold of the music. There was always someone in England or in France who'd send us cassettes”. The group was discovered by a successful French rap group IAM (band) after they heard them at a festival. Due to the talent, a few well known artists wanted to be featured on their first album; however Intik wanted to create their own success without using already famous artists to help them.Wikipedia
Maryam Mursal (born January 1st, 1950) is a prominent composer and vocalist from Somalia. She grew up in a family with four daughters. Up to the sixties performing music publicly was reserved mainly for men; but Maryam Mursal was determined not to let her gender hold her back form reaching her goals. Confronting this centuries-old tradition she became, in 1966, one of the few professional female vocalists in her country. She performed in nightclubs and her music, known as Somali Jazz, became subsequently popular across the country. Her lively blend is influenced by jazz, blues, soul, African and Arabic music. After criticizing the dictatorial regime, she was banned from singing for two years. She then started earning her living as, arguably, the first female taxi and truck driver in Somalia. During the civil war in her homeland, she and her five children undertook an arduous seven-month journey across four countries on foot and by hitchhiking until they finally found refuge in the Danish Embassy in the neighbouring Djibouti. It was this odyssey through the East African desert that provided the germ of her solo recording The Journey. The back-up vocals in this CD are provided by Peter Gabriel, whose label “Real World” produces her work. She also performed with Nina Simone .Last.Fm
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