Sahra Halgan - Hiddo Dhawr [CD]

Format: CD
Catalogue No.: UMMAIS001CD
Barcode: 3760347746555
Release Date: 27 Sep 2024
Genre: Africa

01: SHARAF - Sahra Halgan
02: LAGA - Sahra Halgan
03: SOM HANYARI - Sahra Halgan
04: SOMALILAND ANI ADI - Sahra Halgan
05: HIDDO DHAWR - Sahra Halgan
06: LIILALAW - Sahra Halgan
07: DIIYOOHIDII - Sahra Halgan
08: QARAM QALAFE - Sahra Halgan
09: MAGOOL - Sahra Halgan
10: LAMAHURAN - Sahra Halgan
11: HOOYALAY - Sahra Halgan
12: DAREEN - Sahra Halgan

UK DJ & Radio support:Craig Charles, Gideon Coe, Lauren Laverne, Deb Grant, Huey Morgan, Huw Stephens, Amy Lame, Chris Hawkins(BBC Radio 6 Music), Ex Friendly(Radio Alhara),Rita Ray & Max Reinhart, DJ Kobayashi (Soho Radio),Steve Barker(On the Wire),Debbie Golt(Resonance FM),EHFM, Celtic Music Radio, Poppyland Radio

BBC Jools Holland confirmed TV appearance (film 13th May, TX Sat 15th June)
BBC Radio 6 Music Playlist (2 x weeks B list, 1 x C list )
BBC Radio 6 Music Craig Charles interview (Broadcast 1st April)
BBC Radio 6 Musiclive session with Craig Charles (15th May)here
BBC Radio 3live session for Music Planethere
BBC World Service Session and ITW - here
BBC Africa(Africa Daily) Session and ITW -here

The Telegraph feature confirmed here
MOJO Rising feature published
MOJO album review confirmed
MOJO Playlist - Sharaf included here
Far Out Mag album review here
Songlines feature confirmed
Songlines Top of the World here
Songlines album review May 2024 (#197), on sale April 5.

Sahra Halgan, Somaliland's iconic singer, freedom fighter, and cultural activist, returns with third album Hiddo Dhawr, a culmination of enduring friendship and global exploration

Seamlessly blending age-old Somali traditions with abrasive guitar riffs, sun-drenched percussion, and vintage keys, the album offers a fresh take on the music of Somaliland, the independent but not internationally recognizedd state in the Horn of Africa

Inside a large, tent-like structure in downtown Hargeisa, Somaliland's tranquil capital city, the atmHiddo Dhawr, Somaliland's first music venue. Halganoured head scarfs, revealing elaborate hairdos and impeccable eyebrows, as they rise to their feet and start to dance. On the stage at the far end of the room a drummer and oud player up the tempo, while the singers pass the microphone to one another. The atmosphere is electric, and as the evening progresses, the joy in the room is palpable.

This is Hiddo Dhawr, Somaliland's first music venue. "I started it because I wanted to bring back our culture, so that people can be proud of it," says Sahra Halgan, cultural activist, musician, and founder of this lively Hargeisa cultural hub, which opened in 2013.

Hiddo Dhawr, which translates to "promote culture", is also the name of Halgan's new album, an electrifying blend of Somali melodies, distorted guitar riffs, thumping West African percussion, and Halgan's unique, warbling vocals. Halgan chose this name for the album to honour the women of Somaliland.

““What a fusion of cultures that is.... it’s wicked””
Craig Charles — 6 Music

““Absolutely brilliant stuff””
Lauren Laverne — 6 Music

““Somaliland-via-France singer meets fuzz guitars and Farfisa organs for rock ‘n’ roll grind and chug.””
MOJO —

““Aside from being an inarguably incredible album, it is a vitally important cultural artefact for the people of Somaliland.””
Far Out Magazine —

““One of Africa’s biggest rock stars””
The Telegraph —

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