Nostalgia from Somalia

Mogadishu in Somalia in the mid-1980s was a crossroads where Africa, Asia and Europe joined, where hotels like the Al-Uruba competed with other luxury venues to host some of the Indian Ocean’s most potent popular music. Situated right on Lido beach, the distinctive Al-Uruba building with Arabic and Somali architectural influences had a little-known recording studio.

The Iftin Band entertained well-heeled locals, high-end tourists and visiting business leaders at Al-Uruba but to connect with ordinary Somalis, the band also…