Saba Anglana

Actress-turned-vocalist Saba Anglana was born in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, during General Muhammad Siyad Barre's oppressive regime. Due to the family's mixed-marriage status (Saba's father was Italian, and her mother a Somalia-born Ethiopian), the Anglanas were forced to flee to the father's homeland when Saba was five years old. Anglana was thereafter raised in Italy, eventually rising to national prominence as a television actress, but her Somali roots remained an important focus. She studied the native language with her mother, particularly the regional dialect of Xamar Weyne, and connected to her native country through music. Jidka: The Line marked her solo debut in 2007, mixing the traditional sounds of Anglana's home country with contemporary flourishes. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide