Mogadishu in Somalia in the mid-1980s was a crossroads where Africa, Asia and Europe joined, where hotels like the Al-Uruba competed with other luxury venues to host some of the Indian Ocean's most potent popular music. Situated right on Lido beach, the distinctive Al-Uruba building with Arabic and Somali architectural influences had a little-known recording studio.
The Iftin Band entertained well-heeled locals, high-end tourists and visiting business leaders at Al-Uruba but to connect with ordinary Somalis, the band also accompanied riwayats (local plays) at the National Theater (it was free of charge, so anyone could go see the band). In the basement, the band cooked up new songs and tracks that featured Somali funk and rhythms from the country's southern region like Banaadiri, Nigerian Afrobeat, Kenyan benga, a sprinkle of Congolese rumba and jazz, and anything else their patrons requested.
The band, like many others, initially came under the supervision of the ministry of education but in the early 1980s left to go and chart their own path. And by going private, the band was able to respond to requests and learn new music to incorporate in their eclectic style. In this respect the band reminds me of my favourite Benin band, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou, another band capable of playing multiple styles with seemingly effortless ease.
This information is engagingly told in the liner notes to Ostinato Records' latest compilation, Iftin Band – Mogadishu's Finest: The Al-Urba Sessions, which will be released on Nov 18. The songs on the album were recorded during 1982-87 in the hotel's secret studio. And that was not an easy task. It took compilers Vik Sohonie and Nicolas Sheikholeslami seven years to track down cassette versions of the recorded tracks, which ended up all over the continent, and even in Europe and the Middle East.
The new compilation is a follow-up to a 2017 release on Somalian popular music, Sweet As Broken Dates, which is an essential collection of foot-stomping dance grooves from Somalia's golden era of popular music in the 1970s and 1980s. Readers may also remember the Iftin Band's two tracks on a compilation from Analogue Africa, Mogadisco, that I reviewed in 2017. If you liked them, then this new album, which is a like an official biography of this amazing band, is one you should check out immediately.
The 14 tracks are stories and poems mainly about love and passion and feature some spellbinding singing from women vocalists like the haunting, nasally sound of Shukri Musse on the opening track Aaway Axdigii (Where Is Our Promise). The liner notes say that the band was instrumental in promoting female singing icons but, in fact, these singers actually led the band. As you settle down and catch your breath after dancing to the first few tracks, like the current single Umaayey Iyo Abo (Mother And Father) which features a guitar groove and a duet by Axmed Sharif Killer and Safiyo Axmed Mansuur, get ready for more dancing. Sometimes, the sound the band creates is similar to Ethiopian jazz, especially the Farafisa-like organ, dreamy sax sounds and distinctive hot brass.
I have only listened to this album a few times but each time I hear something new and exciting. This is one of my favourite albums of 2022 and one I highly recommend. Beautifully packaged with in-depth liner notes and fascinating photos, the album is available in CD, vinyl and download.
World Beat pays tribute to legendary Congolese saxophonist, composer and bandleader Verckys Kiamuangana Mateta who died on Oct 13, aged 78. Verckys learned his trade with Franco's TPOK Band before forming the legendary Orchestre Veve in 1968. He released many hits and was known across Africa. His 1970s hits include Lukani, Ndona and Mwana Mburu. The sad news came as Congolese music fans were commemorating the death of Vercky's old mentor Franco on Oct 13, 1989.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Musical tribute to Irish, Irish/American music expert and banjo player Mick Moloney on Nov 12, at The Blarney Stone on Sukhumvit 4. From 6.00pm.
- World Beat at Studio Lam. I will be returning to DJ at Studio Lam (Sukhumvit 51) on Nov 17, 9pm until late.
John Clewley can be reached at clewley.john@gmail.com.
