Skip to main content
Global Routes with TONY BURKE
Emblematic voices of Djibouti and Cuba offer, respectively, an intriguing exploration and reassuring familiarity
Yanna Momina and Eliades Ochoa

YANNA MOMINA recorded Afar Ways (Giltterbeat) in Djibouti, on the horn of Africa.

Music is a serious business for the rural Afar people. Most of them do not have a television so music is performed every night.

Producer and author, Ian Brennan visited Djibouti in the spring of 2018 and discovered Momina accompanied on a two-string shingle played with nails and a matchbox for maracas. She has a stunning vibrato and writes her own songs.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You can read five articles for free every month,
but please consider supporting us by becoming a subscriber.
More from this author
TB
Music / 12 May 2025
12 May 2025

A New Awakening: Adventures In British Jazz 1966 - 1971, G3, and Buck Owens 

Platform working
Features / 5 May 2025
5 May 2025

TONY BURKE says an International Labour Conference next month will try for a new convention to protect often super-exploited workers providing services such as ride-hailing (taxis) such as Uber as well as fast food and package delivery

The Green Arrows, Salisbury 1977 / Pic © Analog Africa
Global Routes / 23 April 2025
23 April 2025

How underground bands formed a vital part of the struggle against white supremacy

Album Reviews / 3 March 2025
3 March 2025
New releases by Samba Touré, Santrofi, and Piers Faccini & Ballake Sissoko 
Similar stories
Rory Gallagher in 1973
Culture / 30 December 2024
30 December 2024
A horn of plenty, no less!
Music / 9 December 2024
9 December 2024
A new release from Joachim Cooder, and re-releases from Miles Davis and Mountain
Aboubakar Traore
Global Routes / 2 December 2024
2 December 2024
Two new releases from Burkina Faso and Niger, one from French-based Afro Latin The Bongo Hop, and rare Mexican bootlegs
Buena Vista Social Club in full flight
Book Review / 5 August 2024
5 August 2024
Tony Burke speaks to music producer JOE BOYD about his new book, and his career promoting world music