Music of Somalia

The Music of the Somali people (Somali: Muusiga Soomaalida) is music following the musical styles, techniques and sounds of the Somali people.
Somali people have a rich musical heritage centered on traditional Somali folklore.
Somali songs are pentatonic. That is, they only use five pitches per octave in contrast to a heptatonic (seven note) scale such as the major scale. At first listen, Somali music might be mistaken for the sounds of nearby regions such as Oromo in Ethiopia, Sudan or the Arabian Peninsula, but it is ultimately recognizable by its own unique tunes and styles. Somali songs are usually the product of collaboration between lyricists (lahamiste), songwriters (abwaan), and vocalists (odka or "voice"). The Somali word for dance is ciyaar.
Traditional instruments prominently featured in the music of Somaliland include the oud lute (kaban). It is often accompanied by small drums and a reed flute in the background. However, heavy percussion and metallic sounds are uncommon in Somaliland. The riverine and coastal areas of Somalia use a wide variety of traditional instruments including:
Somali popular music began with the balwo style, pioneered by Abdi Sinimo, who rose to fame in the early 1940s. This new genre then in turn created the Heelo style of Somali music. Abdi's innovation and passion for music revolutionized Somali music forever.
Introduction of melody in modern Somali song is credited to Abdullahi Qarshe, who is recognised for introducing the kaban (oud) as an accompaniment to Somali music. Qarshe is revered by Somalis as "father of Somali music".
Many qaraami songs from this era are still extremely popular today. This musical style is mostly played on the kaban (oud). Prominent Somali kaban players of the 1950s include Ali Feiruz and Mohamed Nahari.
During the rule of the Supreme Revolutionary Council (Somalia), music was suppressed except for a small amount of officially sanctioned music. There were many protest songs produced during this period, pioneered by the people of Somaliland who were trying to gain independence from the government of Somalia, especially the genocidal Barre regime.
Bands such as Waaberi and Horseed have gained a small following outside of the country. Others, like Ahmed Ali Egal, Maryam Mursal and Waayaha Cusub have fused traditional Somali music with pop, rock and roll, bossa nova, jazz, and other modern influences.
Music recorded in the 1970s was preserved in Hargeisa, buried underground, and is now available at the Red Sea Foundation at the Hargeisa Cultural Center, and in Radio Hargeisa. The Barre dictatorial regime effectively nationalised the music scene, with bands and production under state control. Bands were operated by the police, the army and the national penitentiary. Female singers were encouraged more than was the case in most of East Africa. Most musicians had left the country before 1991. Hiddo Dhawr is now operating as the only live music venue in the city.
The first radio station in Somalia to air popular Somali music was Radio Kudu based in Hargeisa, modern-day Somaliland. The first song to be broadcast was composed by Guroon Jire in 1940 in English, Somali and Arabic, before being renamed the following year to Radio Somali. The head of the Music department was Mohamed Saeed (Guroon jire). Music is now regularly broadcast on the state-run Radio Mogadishu, Horn of Africa Entertainment Pty Ltd the first structured Somali record label dedicated to professionalizing the Somali music industry. Horn of Africa Entertainment Pty Ltd is committed to elevating Somali music to a global standard by ensuring that Somali artists, songwriters, and producers receive proper royalties, licensing opportunities, and industry protections. We provide Somali artists with the tools, knowledge, and platform they need to succeed globally while safeguarding their rights and intellectual property. as well Horn of Africa Music Publishing (HAMP) the leading Somali-owned music publishing company, dedicated to protecting, managing, and maximizing the value of music copyrights for songwriters, composers, and producers. As the official publishing arm of Horn of Africa Entertainment Pty Ltd (HAE), HAMP plays a critical role in building the first structured and sustainable Somali music publishing industry, ensuring Somali music creators receive the rights and royalties they deserve.
For decades, Somali artists, songwriters, and composers have created timeless and influential music, but due to a lack of proper publishing infrastructure, many have lost ownership of their works, gone uncompensated, or struggled to monetize their music globally. Horn of Africa Music Publishing (HAMP) is committed to changing this narrative by providing professional publishing administration, copyright protection, licensing, royalty collection, and global rights management. and radio popular television networks such as Horn Cable Television (a private company which is based in Somaliland).