Here's some groovy funk rock from Mogadishu, Somalia. Dur-Dur (meaning "spring" in Somali, as in a natural flowing water spring) Band were huge in their home country in the late 80s. I found this album, Volume 5, at my local library about two or three years ago. I was immediately hooked by the funky grooves, the chicky chick guitar picking, the reverb vocals.
Tajir Waa Ilaah translates to "God is perfect". The song explores themes of human vulnerability, the fleeting nature of wealth, the necessity of humility, and the importance of empathy towards women. It suggests that true, lasting perfection belongs only to the divine, reminding listeners not to look down on others.
In addition to Dur-Dur Band, there were also the Iftin Band, Waaberi Band, and Sharaf Band rocking out in Mogadishu on a regular basis. Unfortunately, as with Cambodia and Ethiopia, war had to raise its ugly head and bring the good times to an end. Somalia had been under military junta since 1978. Rebel groups formed, the government military was defeated, and the country descended into chaos with various groups fighting for power.
Volume 5 was reissued around a decade ago by the label Awesome Tapes from Africa. From their website:
By 1987 Dur-Dur Band’s line-up featured singers Sahra Abukar Dawo, Abdinur Adan Daljir, Mohamed Ahmed Qomal and Abdukadir Mayow Buunis, backed by Abukar Dahir Qasim (guitar), Yusuf Abdi Haji Aleevi (guitar), Ali Dhere (trumpet), Muse Mohamed Araci (saxophone), Abdul Dhegey (saxophone), Eise Dahir Qasim (keyboard), Mohamed Ali Mohamed (bass), Adan Mohamed Ali Handal (drums), Ooyaaye Eise and Ali Bisha (congas) and Mohamed Karma, Dahir Yaree and Murjaan Ramandan (backing vocals). Dur-Dur Band managed to release almost a dozen recordings before emigrating to Ethiopia, Djibouti and America.