Music / World
The Somali stars promoting cultural unity
Sunday, November 15 was a very special day. The day three stars of a nation, all the way from Somaliland, arrived at The Lantern.
The first of the trio was the legendary lyricist described as “the backbone of Somali Music”, Daoud Ali Mas’haf. He was joined by vocalist and music composer Mohammed BK, who has been described as the highlight of every show up until this point, and folklore dancer, vocalist and former member of Waaberi, Sahra Ilays.
The group performed at the Somali Week festival in London at the end of October, garnering a sell-out show and standing ovation on each of the seven nights, before bringing their magic to Bristol just two weeks later.
is needed now More than ever
The sensational performers known as the Stars of the Horn, who are very much admired in their homeland, gave astonishing performances which not only left the crowd wanting more, but also attracted a very diverse crowd in terms of culture, race and age.
Vocalist Mohammed BK in particular has transformed the Somali musical platform throughout his career with his ability to unite the old and the young generations through his modernisation of traditional music.
“He is an extraordinary singer managing to mobilise the Somali community around the country for the first time in 30 years,” said Ayan Mahmoud, managing director of Kayd Arts and Culture, the organisation behind the Somali Week festival.
The organisation encompasses poetry, literature, panel discussions, documentary film screenings, music and theatre, making the best of Somali arts and culture, both old and new, available to those in the UK. The Somali Week festival includes a mixture of events that showcase the talent and success of the Somali community, bringing writers, poets, activist and journalists together.
Kayd is in partnership with the Red Sea Cultural Foundation, who aim to empower and educate the Somali community in Somaliland and Somalia as a whole through endorsing and supplying high quality Somali literature and providing young people with access to the cultures of the world by translating famous classical literature into Somali.
Jama, author and founder of Red Sea Cultural Foundation, also co-organized an event focusing on literature in Bristol at the end of last month, attended by himself and other Somali poets, writers and journalists.
Ayan Mahmoud has recently been awarded with an MBE for promoting friendship and cultural understanding between the UK and Somali region, and worked hard to bring Somaliland’s biggest musicians to the UK.
This leg of the Stars of the Horn tour has already included gigs in Bristol, Birmingham and Liverpool and continues in Sheffield on the November 26.
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