• List Price: $15.99  
• Your Price: $15.99
• In Stock: [{"available":"0"}]

You must login to place orders.




Not purchasing for a business? See our consumer site.

Sahra Halgan is an iconic artist from Somaliland, formerly the British protectorate of northern Somalia and since 1991 an independent country that remains unrecognized by the international community. Granddaughter of a singer and poet, she turned to singing and music as a teenager, in defiance of tribal and family conventions. Her first album, as a trio, was released in 2015. On this new record, with its genuine vintage sound, the piercing heat of Sahra's voice transcends unwavering grooves and hypnotic riffs. Aimed as much at the dance floor as at our consciousness, this new repertoire includes original compositions, traditional pieces, and songs from the golden age of the Somali stage. ''Waa Dardaaran'' is the polite form of address used towards the powerful and venerable as a prelude to making any request.

Sahra Halgan : voice
Aymeric Kroll : percussions
Maël Salètes : guitar
Graham Mushnik: keyboards

Track Listing

Press Quotes

On her second album, Somali singer and songwriter Sahra Halgan comes roaring out of the gate with a raggedly rocking small ensemble behind her and a voice that soars, warbles, and shouts. Those who love Ethiopian pop music will recognize some similarities here in the melodic shapes and the vocal techniques of Somali singing, but Halgan's is a unique style; it draws not only on sounds and inflections of her home region, notably the very popular qaarami song form, but also on elements of rhythm and blues ('Caaqil') and even British new wave (listen to that cheesy Farfisa organ on 'Talo'). This isn't 'fusion' music, though; it's organic and original and honestly eclectic while still providing a window on a musical culture too little known outside of Africa. Highly recommended to all libraries.

     —Rick Anderson, CD HotList February 2020