Mereja.Forum

[Somaliman]

Yaballo,

Hola! ¿Qué pasa, hermano?

Thanks for reminding me of Abdullahi Arusi and Yonis Abdullahi, whom I've known both back in Mogadishu at Radio Mogadishu.

And particularly of "Laali", which used to play on every corner in Somali cities.

Of course, a large number of the Somalis that you come across these days would deny that there was an Afaan Oromo Department at Radio Mogadishu, leave alone about "Laali", as they didn't know.

[Somaliman]

Somaliman,

Hola, hermano. Todo bien. Muchas gracias.

As you can appreciate, there are some not so great stuffs going-on in Ethiopia that are badly affecting our Somali and Oromo communities in Ethiopia. But, I am fine. Thank you.

Yes, those old Oromo songs - accompanied by the fantastic studio music bands of 'Raadonii moqdisho' - still sound as great as they had ever been! Maybe I am biased [smile]. I think that is a testimony to the very high calibre/quality of the Somali musicians who made them possible. May god bless them all here & in janata [the after life or in heaven]!

By the way, I still have a hope - a "bucket-list" of sorts still up - to visit the famous studios of "Raadonii Moqdishoo" before I get too old or pass-away [smile]. In fact, Antarctica & Moqadishu are the two most important things on my bucket-list.

In a sense, "Raadonii Moqdishoo" has left a very indelible mark on me as I've been listing to it [including to the Somali language programs] from when I was too young, even when I hardly understood the Somali language, bar a few words here & there at the time.

Like most listeners to that iconic radio station in my home region of Borana [Oromo regions in lowland Bale & Hararghe are far more avid followers of Raadonii Moqdishoo]; I listened to the programs mostly for the lovely Somali songs without even nothing the source of my attraction, at the time!

So, yes, I have a very fond memories of 'Raadonii Moqdishoo' & would appreciate it to the end.

Hopefully, when the current COVID-19 crisis improves & depending on few other factors, I will most certainly aim to fulfill my "Raadonii Moqdishoo bucket list" - god willing.

All the best my brother & nagaa badhaadhani. Nabad.


SONG: "Hanga hardhaani tanaa, si wojjin jiiradhee" .. | by: Mohmmud Sheik Mohammed Bookhee | 1970s .. Radio Moqdisho ..

SONG: "Isiifi jechuun gubadha" .. | Abdullahi Arusii | Oromo music | Radio Moqdisho - early 1970s.

SONG: "Nandidin" .. | Yunus Abdulahi & Fatuma Kasim [Fadumoo Qaasim] .. Radio Moqadisho ..

SONG: "Halkuuni na dhorkee hirriba" | An Oromo Song by the legendary 'Asha Abdo' .. Radio Moqdisho ..

SONG: "Ya ilma namaa .. na dhaga'i" | Oromo Song by the legendary Fatuma Qasim (Fadumoo Qaasim) - Raadonii Moqdishoo ..

Yaballo,

On one of the videos that you've posted, it says, "This timeless classic song you're listening now to was played around 37 years ago."
There are many other Afaan Oromo songs that were played at Radio Mogadishu (Raadonii Moqdishoo) way earlier than 37 years, as Afaan Oromo Department was incorporated into Radio Mogadishu in 1963.

Radio Mogadishu was launched in 1943, when the entire territory of the Somali people, except French Somaliland, was under British rule. But its first air date was 1951, a year after the Italians' return to Somalia under a UN trusteeship, with the commitment to bring Somalia to independence within ten years.

Not many people know, including many Somalis, but there was a period in which all Somali territories, including South Somalia was under the British rule. In addition, the noun Somaliland was not exclusive to the current mindless enclave in the north but every part of Somalia used to be called Somaliland, such as, Italian Somaliland, French Somaliland, British Somaliland protectorate, etc.

BTW, try not to go to Mogadishu or anywhere else in Somalia anytime soon.