20100621
africanews

Islamist insurgent group Hizbul Islam may have banned music in Somalia but artists say it would not stop singing. "This is my work and life. Till my childhood, I was in the music. The feed of my family depends on," said Mohamud Goh Qarbosh, a veteran Somali musician currently living in Nairobi, Kenya.

Biting his lips while he looks at the skies above him, Qarbosh said his profession feeds even his grandchildren and does not know any other thing to do apart from singing.

Close shop or play music

“Banning the songs is to kill part of our culture. The owners of the radio stations in Mogadishu must play music or switch off the radio stations. That is the best option because to stop the music means to say no to Somalis”, Qarbosh aged 53 told AfricaNews.

Qarbsoh who is among more than 30 musicians fleeing from Somalia said the decision by Hizbul Islam to stop music in Mogadishu is unacceptable.

“Musicians are the key pillars to stability in Somalia today if their advice is followed by government and insurgent groups. Music unites even the worst of enemies and makes the world population united. Without music Somali will continue to butcher each other,” he said.

A scene of joy

Khadija Fodey Nur is one of the most popular and loved mothers of Somali music. She came to the stage in the 1970’s and now lives in Kenya.

Nur describes the actions by Hizbul Islam as destroying the roots of the community.

“Listening to music is the only way to be happy in Somalia. War and bloodshed are everywhere in Mogadishu so people listen to music to feel happy and to stop worrying”.

Nur believes Islamist banned the music after singers blended their peace campaigns with messages to Hizbul Islam and al-Shabaab questioning the ideologies of the Islamist group.

"To deny Somalis music is to deny us our voice but we will still work hard to bring more albums," Khadija Fodey insisted.

Spirit of reactions

A newly formed HADAF arts and Awareness Club based in Nairobi says the ban came as Somali pop music, ranging from the plaintive songs of singers abroad, was widely on sale in Mogadishu.

The singers produced plaintive songs after suicide attack hit at local hotel Shamo in Mogadishu in December last year during a graduation ceremony where more than 22 people lost their lives, including four ministers, number of doctors and journalists.

“You stopped the music but still people are dying for famine and fire. The music kills nothing; it is only passion…before stopping the music please stop the killings”, said Khadija Isse, the chairperson of HADAF arts and Awareness Club.

The Club was formed to promote music and entertainment to advocate for peace in war-torn nation of horn of Africa after Hizbul Islam banned to play songs.

Sagal Ahmed Muse, a 25 year old singer, is one of the new singers who had joined the life of music soon. She is not worried about the decision to ban music. According to her, the ban encourages her to produce new songs.

"These actions cannot stop us from singing…. they would have to close down all social media and the internet,” says Sagal who wears capacious black dresses while her long hair is waving.

Musicians say they are playing a great role in the peace process and pass the message of peace through their songs.

“In Somali community, the music commands a significant number of followers which make it a powerful force; Music is one of the forces that built and destroyed Siad Barre’s 21 years military rule, so this group cannot make us silence”, said a 24 year old song writer and journalist Abdirahman Sharif Mohamed.

Against rhythm

But Hizbul Islam Spokesman Mohamed Osman Aros said that his group does not against arts but rejects only instruments to create rhythm and western cultures.

“We are Muslims and we must follow the rules of the religion. Poetry is ok but music with beats and drums is out of the question,” Aros told AfricaNews by phone.

Most Somali music lovers in Somalia especially the youth confess they are still enjoying their favourite tracks on the online media. There are a number of Somali websites that broadcast only music and keeping the music scene alive but the question is will Hizbul Islam clump down on them?