Jul 20/06
The Comorian Effect
My new colleague, Muinaté, was more than a bit surprised when I told her that I was a big fan of Comorian music. Her face lit-up when I name-dropped Zainaba and a few others. “T’aimes la voix d’or! C’est incroyable.” I guess not everyone is into music from the island of Grande Comore. But they should be.
Thanks to Muinaté we’ll hear some more music from the relatively obscure “country” of Comoros. I surround country by quotes since it’s hard to call somewhere with multiple independence movements, partial French neocolonial control and a total lack of authority over its whole territory a country. I guess the Comoros are more a collection of islands with common cultural threads.. and beautiful music.
There’s something about the way Comorians sing that catches my ear. Listen to the vocal melody of the contemporary Comorian musician, Salim Ali Amir. It wavers, rises and falls like the style of more traditional Comorian singers such as Zainaba and Mohamed Hassan. There’s definitely a distinctly Comorian sound.. once again, a nice fusion of multiple Arabic and African influences.
Don’t Thursdays and the oud go great together?
And hey, sorry for the sporadic posts lately. When I’ve not been outside enjoying the hear I’ve been traveling all over the place. I finally got a few posts lined-up so check back this week and next for more music.
Salim Ali Amir
Mohamed Hassan – Mri Uwalao
Hi! Love the music today, perfect for a very rainy Thursday here in the midwest USA.
Does the Sali Amin Amir song have a name?
Thanks for all the wonderful ear-opening music. I’ve learned far more from your site than I ever did just flipping through catalogues and underfilled CD bins.
Kate
Hi!
I was sure you will appreciate it… as I knew you like Zainaba “La Voix d’Or”.
I hope Comoros will no longer be a “relatively obscure country” for you and people who visit the website.
The song of Salim Ali Amir is “Palestine”.
Hi
Thanks for your post about Comoros : this multicultural land is at the crossroads between african lifestyles and muslim roots. Like any other place where cultures are blended, a powerful music emerged there.
I lived 1 year in Mayotte, the French island of the Comoros. I discovered a full spectrum of great music styles, especially comorian reggae with Babadi.
If you’re interested, leave me a message (chongastyle-roots@yahoo.com). I can prepare a post with some special tunes from this artist.
Great blog too, keep on !
Chongastyle
“Thanks to Muinaté we’ll hear some more music from the relatively obscure “country” of Comoros. I surround country by quotes since it’s hard to call somewhere with multiple independence movements, partial French neocolonial control and a total lack of authority over its whole territory a country. I guess the Comoros are more a collection of islands with common cultural threads.. and beautiful music.”
sounds like a country to me! no doubt at all.
maybe not a “nation” though, for the time being.
Hi, my name is Salah E. Djimbanaou. I am a Comorian artist located in the USA. I am a motion graphics artist with a passion for music. I grew up listen to Salim Ali Amir, Boule, Abou Shihab, Adinane, and Maalesh. I had the opportunity to actually meet them and I came to find out that mother and my aunt used to sing with as back-up singer. While growing up I learned to play the guitar (and I tried to imitate Boule and Maalesh) and today I play the keyboard and I try to incorporate traditional Comorian sound (style) into other music style such as smooth jazz, alternative and ambient. This is an attempt to take traditional (or style) sound to a new age genre. I would greatly appreciate any feedback that would allow me reach this goal. Sample of my music can be heard at:
http://myspace.com/sukarimusic
and
http://sukari.hi5.com