A few weeks ago I did a show on nts where I played Somali music and since it was shortly after Pauline Oliveros’ passing I dedicated the show to her and ended with two of her pieces. Not long after I finished the show I was honoured to have a long chat with Axmed Naaji who imo is one of the greatest artists to ever do it. One of the things we talked about was the track ‘Diinle Kabiirow’ which I played in the show and here is a summary of what he told me about it:

“The original version of Diinle Kabiirow is over a century old and it is about an important figure in the Reer Hamar clan. So it was a traditional song only known by that clan and in the late 50s when we started to make musicals we reworked some of the traditional Reer Hamar music of which Diinle Kabiirow was one of the first. Then in the 70s we reworked Diinle Kabiirow again and even changed the lyrics for Xabiib Sharaabi, which is the version you played on your radio show.”

Track list:

Maryan Naasir & Maxamud C/dallah Jerri - Xuural Ceyntii Jannada

Axmed Naaji (AU) - Wax

Faadumo Qaasim (AU) - Go'ee Anaa

Xabiib Sharaabi - Gadaal Aan Ka Gartee

Shimaali Axmed Shimaali -  Laan Soo Baxeyso

Maryan Naasir - Dheeftii Dhadhan Beesho

Faadumo Qaasim - Xabiibi

Xabiib Sharaabi - Diinle Kabiirow

K'Naan - America (feat. Mos Def & Chali 2na)

Pauline Oliveros - A Love Song

Pauline Oliveros & Ione - Water Above Sky Below Now (Part3)

Somali Music #2 (dedicated to Pauline Oliveros)

Axm3d