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.
