Djibouti located in the eastern Africa has inherited its wide variety of music from various ethnic groups who have dominated the cultural landscape of the country. The local songs are very popular among tourists as Djibouti music has the typical musical complexities and the soulful stirring common to all African music. The music of Djibouti has gained a lot of influence from its surrounding countries and the influence can be seen in its cuisines and other elements of art and culture. The inclusion of ethnic groups like the Somalis and Afar as well as the French and Arab citizens have given a lot of diversity to the music of Djibouti.
Facts about Djibouti reveals that the music of Djibouti is considerably influenced by Afar music which is in turn is similar to the music of the Ethiopians in their Arabic tunes. Apart from this, the Djibouti tours will also bring the variety of Somali oral traditions with their range of proverbs and poetry which is mostly connected from the Sufi chronicles. The oral literature of Afar is very musical, which is represented in the numerous songs sung during weddings, war, and other important events like praise and boasting which need popular espousal.
As in every culture, songs dealing with the universal themes of love and war and other occasions for the outpouring of elemental passion are common in Djibouti music. There is an element of Djibouti music called the “miniature poetry” supposedly invented by a truck driver called Abdi Deeqsi and these are very well known in Djibouti. They are a series of short poems known as the balwo which is a localized version of Somalian popular music.
Djibouti travel will also make the tourist familiar with the national anthem which was adopted in the year 1977. Djibouti being one of the last countries under French dominance to gain independence has poured its heart and soul in the composition of the national anthem. The words of the national anthem were the creation of Aden Elmi while the music was composed by Abdi Robleh.
Some of the typical musical instruments used for the music of Djibouti include the tanbura and the bowl lyre. The relationship of Djibouti music with their dance is very much connected as in other parts of Africa. The music of Djibouti is used in all aspects of its social life including its political sphere. The influences of African popular music as the rock, jazz and the blues have slowly steeped into the soulful music of Djibouti.
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