The oud is one of the oldest stringed instruments in the world, played right across North Africa, the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. It has a rounded wooden body, a short neck and usually eleven or twelve strings arranged in pairs. Unlike a guitar, it has no frets – the small metal bars that divide a guitar's neck – which means the player can slide between notes to create a smooth, flowing sound.
Tambourines and frame drums provide the heartbeat of the music. A frame drum is simply a circle of wood with a thin skin stretched across it; when you strike it with your fingers and palm in different ways, it can produce dozens of different sounds. Players often hold the drum with one hand and play complex patterns with the other, maintaining a steady rhythm while the oud weaves melodies above it.
In Djibouti, music belongs to everyone. At celebrations, singers often improvise – making up verses on the spot about the people in the room, the occasion being marked, or recent events in the community. The audience responds, claps along and sometimes joins in, making the music a shared, living conversation rather than a performance people simply watch.
Somali and Afar musical traditions both shape Djiboutian music. Somali music is known for its poetry – songs often carry long, beautifully crafted poems set to melody. Afar music uses different scales and rhythms, giving Djibouti's musical landscape a rich variety.