Lemma | Sahra Halgan

Propulsive Algerian Saharan rhythms meets psych rock infused traditional songs of Somaliland in an exciting showcase of female-led traditions.

Day 2 of Barzakh Festival features the Live UAE Debut of Lemma (Algeria) and Sahra Halgan (Somaliland)

Lemma (Algeria)

Hailing from the Saoura region, this all-female band presents a symphony of several music genres, singing texts borrowed from the mystical odes and supplications from the hadra sessions, as well as passages from some well-known malhûn texts. Their percussion draws from hidûss and hadra, and is as much in the rhythm as is in the darbouka or the bendir. Their rhythm is rich and comes in many genres; borrowing the rhythm of ’arûbi (a free and repetitive rhythm) and haddâwî (the rhythm of the wandering mystics of the Moroccan brotherhood of Sidi Haddi) as well as other rhythms and melodies from all across the Maghreb. Every musical style is represented, from the spiritual to the most earthly, and reproduced here with equal merriment.

Listen to the music:

Sahra Halgan (Somaliland)

Sahra Halgan presents a mix of original compositions and traditional Somali songs through distorted guitars, African percussion, and Sahra’s distinctive warbling vocals. With her unique vocal style, Sahra sings about love, gratitude, and rebuilding her nation, using poetry typical of the Somali language. Each member of the group brings their own distinctive background into the music: Krol, who has spent time in Bamako studying Malian percussions, uses his set of hand drums to drive tracks such as “Dhesha Dheshu” and “Caaqil,” while Salètes’ distorted guitars and hypnotic riffs give the record a solid rock backbone. A new addition to the group, keyboard player Graham Mushnik, injects some of that Golden Era psychedelia into the record. “We bring our own identity to the music, but I think we respect the meaning and the melodies of Somali music” says Salètes.

Listen to the music: