Dur-Dur Band

Dur-Dur Band
Origin Mogadishu, Somalia
Genres Funk, Soul, Disco
Years active 1980s (1980s)–1990s (1990s)

Dur-Dur Band was a musical group from Mogadishu, Somalia. The band was formed in the 1980s and was one of the most well-known acts on the Mogadishu disco scene at the time.[1] The band later performed and recorded based in neighbouring Ethiopia.[2] Their unique sound encompasses funk and disco, with influences of soul.

History

Inspired by artists such as Michael Jackson, Bob Marley and Santana, Dur-Dur Band emerged during a time when Somalia’s distinctive contribution to the creative culture in the Horn of Africa was visible and abundant. Thousands of recordings made at the Somali National Theatre, Radio Mogadishu and other studios, were complemented by the nightclubs at Hotel Juba, Jazeera Hotel and Hotel al-Curuuba, creating a flourishing music scene.[3]

By 1987 Dur-Dur Band’s line-up featured singers Sahra Abukar Dawo, Abdinur Adan Daljir, Mohamed Ahmed Qomal and Abdukadir Mayow Buunis, backed by Abukar Dahir Qasim (guitar), Yusuf Abdi Haji Aleevi (guitar), Ali Dhere (trumpet), Muse Mohamed Araci (saxophone), Abdul Dhegey (saxophone), Eise Dahir Qasim (keyboard), Mohamed Ali Mohamed (bass), Adan Mohamed Ali Handal (drums), Ooyaaye Eise and Ali Bisha (congas) and Mohamed Karma, Dahir Yaree and Murjaan Ramandan (backing vocals).

Dur-Dur Band disbanded in the early 1990s when the disintegrating political situation in Somalia led to members leaving the country and scattering abroad. The group recorded several albums[4] and managed to release almost a dozen recordings before emigrating to Ethiopia, Djibouti and America.[3] The founders of the band, married couple Abdinur Daljir and Sahra Dawo, now reside in Ohio, United States.[4][5]

In March 2013, the record label Awesome Tapes from Africa re-released their 1987 cassette release Volume 5 on LP, CD, and cassette formats.[5] The album received wide critical acclaim from music critics.[6][7]

In November 2014, Dur-Dur Band reunited for a single performance at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, following a week-long artist residency as part of the "Midnimo" Somali cultural program.[8]

Partial discography

References

  1. ↑ Tangari, Joe (2013). "Dur-Dur Band Vol. 5". Pitchfork.
  2. ↑ Hijazi, Muhammad (June 1994). "Global Music Pulse - The Latest Music New From Around the Planet - Ethiopia". Billboard. 106 (26): 75. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Dur-Dur Band – "Garsore Waa Ilaah"". Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 Greenstreet, Morgan. "Dur-Dur Band, Vol. 5- Awesome Tapes From Africa". Afropop. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  5. 1 2 "A Funky-Fresh Sound From Somalia, With A Political History". NPR. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  6. ↑ Tangari, Joe. "Dur-Dur Band Vol. 5 - Album Review". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  7. ↑ Weigel, Maxwell. "Dur-Dur Band: Volume 5". Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "Dur-Dur Band with Black Market Brass and DJ Soft Abuse: Midnimo Residency Finale Concert". Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved 8 Jun 2016.
  9. ↑ "Rafaad iyo Raaxo". Youtube. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
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