Djibouti

Djibouti is a multiethnic country. The two largest ethnic groups are the Somali & the Afar. The Afar (Arabic: عفار‎) are also known as the Danakil. Traditional Afar music resembles the folk music of other parts of the Horn of Africa such as Ethiopia; it also contains elements of Arabic music. The history of Djibouti is recorded in the poetry & songs of its nomadic people. Djibouti is called ‘the Nation of Poets’. The musical history goes back thousands of years to a time when the peoples of Djibouti traded hides & skins for the perfumes & spices of ancient Egypt, India, & China. Afar oral literature is also quite musical. It comes in many varieties, including songs for weddings, war, praise, & boasting.

Abdullah Leh (or Lee or Leé, who knows, its transliteration from Arabic, after all)

[1) Muammar Qaddafi, 2) Mo'ammar Gadhafi, 3) Muammar Kaddafi, 4) Muammar Qadhafi, 5) Moammar El Kadhafi, 6) Muammar Gadafi, 7) Mu'ammar al-Qadafi, 8) Moamer El Kazzafi, 9) Moamar al-Gaddafi, 10) Mu'ammar Al Qathafi, 11) Muammar Al Qathafi, 12) Mo'ammar el-Gadhafi, 13) Moamar El Kadhafi, 14) Muammar al-Qadhafi, 15) Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhafi, 16) Mu'ammar Qadafi , 17) Moamar Gaddafi
18) Mu'ammar Qadhdhafi, 19) Muammar Khaddafi, 20) Muammar al-Khaddafi, 21) Mu'amar al-Kadafi, 22) Muammar Ghaddafy, 23) Muammar Ghadafi, 24) Muammar Ghaddafi, 25) Muamar Kaddafi, 26) Muammar Quathafi, 27) Mohammer Q'udafi, 28) Muammar Gheddafi, 29) Muamar Al-Kaddafi, 30) Moammar Khadafy, 31) Moammar Qudhafi, 32) Mu'ammar al-Qaddafi…my favorite example, & that’s just one despot person]

...well, Abdullah L. is the grand master of Afar music & is respected throughout Djibouti for his decades of dedication & mastery of the traditional Djibouti music. Abdullah is a master of the oud but wails on the electric guitar just as well, creating some of the most Arabic sounding Afro-funk I’ve heard so (a)far.  I probably could find more information on this legendary musician if I understood Afar. I hardly understand Anear.

 Abdallah Leh – Music from Afar, 1960-1990. 

decryption code in comments

Tracklist – 

Dabali Sareh

Kote Aroda Qoborota Kiniyanu

Wamlehka Yoh Itam Waam

Wosamanikeye Wosamanikeye

Assamaqat Mana y Assomi Mayou

Ganibeye Yole Amkeye Atu Inale Amete Qala Matuke Ameye

Heerik Kah Rada Kah Tandufulee Ise Tub Le Maluk Teete Inti Kexe

Imanina Elesotam Amahteti

Akoqem Roci Kougacnih Gaxa

Yadow Ayga

Waqala Warsitan Ke Wa

Ede Makoo Qarafa

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

A fellow blogger Kevin over at Eclectic Grooves used to do a feature call Plain Brown Wrappers where he posted up rare & unusual mixes unlabeled to see who could figure it out. Here’s my version called Bloody Red Handkerchief. The mix is called Sheikh Djibouti. First one to figure out the cuts gets something good (musical). Apologies to Kevin.

BloodyRedHandkerchief – Sheikh Djibouti

decryption code in comments

Enjoy,

NØ