Dur-Dur Band International

There was a time when Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, was often referred to as the “pearl of the Indian Ocean.” Before Dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991 and the country plunged into civil war, it was a beautiful, cosmopolitan city with the nightlife and bands like Dur Dur to soundtrack it. Today, it’s a scarred place under persistent threat from the country’s still-powerful religious militias and al-Shabaab suicide bombers. Dur Dur Band it’s the name originally taken by 80’s Mogadishu Somalia Funk, Disco, Soul Band that was later disbanded in the early 90s, unable to continue playing in their city, Dur-Dur Band broke up and scattered abroad. Their competition did too, and the cinemas, studios, hotels and theatres that once played host to their music closed, or were forced to. In 2006, Mogadishu was briefly dominated by Islamic extremists who attempted to outlaw music. The place where this music was made is still listed on the map as though nothin