Someone just passed me this YouTube clip of what, according to the video notes and the unmistakable melody, is the inspiration for K’naan’s “Fire in Freetown,” one of my favorite songs on the Troubadour album. The original is very beautiful (is that an oud, walla shu?). According to an extremely cursory Google search, Fatima Abdillahi Mandeeq (various spellings) is a Somali folk singer. I am working my Somali contacts for a translation.
Update: Hat-tip SG in Nairobi
Eamon Kircher-Allen 
Hi. Yes it’s oud, we call it Kaban in Somali. There are as far as I am familiar with 2 different songs that have the line “sidii hogasha roobka”. One is recorded by famous Somali singer Hassan Samatar Ahmed, and it’s the version in wich the line shows up right at the beginning of the 1. verse. The other one is the version you have here. Here is the whole lyrics in Somali for Hassan Aadan Samatar’s version in Somali :
sida hogasha roobka ( means ; like the clouds of the rain)
ama hilaaca guyoo da’ay
hobaan bislaatiyo
haro wada biyeysan
oo lagu hayaamo
hubaal sahan kii uu raray
waxuu si hintiqiyaba
hada qadacsi loo jiro
haboonay naftaydaan
higsi baad ku noqatoo
adaa ii hiraayee
hadaad diido hadalkayga
habeen wacan nasiibkayga
halkaygaan ku sugayaa
hanfi iyo dabayl baa
isu kay hadheeyoo
sida hawd dulhamagan
habaqa iga baxayaa
hadaan haysto taladaa
hiboy kaama hiisheen
kuu hoodo sheegtee
haween haygu noqonine
waxaan hiilay noqon laa
halista iyo dhibtaan qabo
adoo iga horjoogsada
hadaad diido hadalkayga
habeen wacan nasiibkayga
halkaygan ku sugayaa
hanaankiyo quruxdaan
hiboy kugu jeclaadee
hablahaad u sidataa
haybadiyo asluubtee
sahamiyey dartaayo
habeen socod ku waasho
waxan eega dhaafaa
hawadaa sareetee
waxaan hiilay noqon laa
halista iyo dhibtaan qabo
adoo iga horjoogsada
hadaad diido hadalkayga
habeen wacan nasiibkayga
halkaygan ku sugayaa
Peace
Mohammed , Norway
Mohammed, thanks so much for providing this. Getting comments like yours is exactly why I keep a blog! I will check out the Hassan Samatar Ahmed version, too.
Fire in freetown is definitely one of the best songs of f trabadour. I had the chance to see him perform last summer in a very low key concert and it was amazing. Still trying to get my hands on a Mandeeq album..one can only hope.
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So what does the rest of the song mean? I would like to know.
Does anyone know where the inspiration for the lyrics came from? I’ve googled, but can’t decide if Freetown was actually a place that caught on fire…
Peace and respect to those of you who have taken the time to post. We all benefit from this shared knowledge and perspective. The reference to Freetown could stem from the Civil War in Sierra Leone (circa 1992-2002). The nation’s capital city is called “Freetown”. I guess “Fire” is a symbolic and actual reference to instability, turmoil, death, pain, etc. This is how I have come to understand it. The film “Blood Diamond” offers some cursory insight into the conflict. I hope that this is of some benefit to you. Peace.
i’m a bit late (6 years) but have you found the translation yet?
Never did! But also forgot about it. Post any findings here? Sorry for delayed comment approval.