Premiere: Alsarah & The Nubatones on ‘Songs of Return’

By Jamilah King Oct 20, 2014

Sudanese-born, Brooklyn-based singer Alsarah and her band The Nubatones have already gained a good amount of critical acclaim in the United States. Alsarah’s previous album "Aljawal" with French producer Débruit earned a spot on NPR’s list of 10 Favorite World Music Albums of 2013 with a sound that’s been described as "East African retro pop.

But it’s impossible to talk about East African music without touching on the violence that’s torn the region apart for decades. Earlier this year, Alsarah & The Nubatones released "Silt," an album has its musical roots in the Nubian "Songs of Return" after mass displacement and resettlement due to political conflicts and flooding. Now, they’re releasing "Silt Remixed" on October 21. Here’s the world debut of the video for the track "Habibi Taal." 

In an email to Colorlines, Alsarah had this to say about the new version of the song:

This is a traditional song from Central Sudan that is a part of the women’s musical tradition, Aghani Albanat, performed at weddings and other social gatherings. Traditionally these songs are written and performed by women and are one of the few spaces that allow women to publicly express their feelings towards a romantic interest. And so, they have a tendency to be very simple flirty love songs with the sole purpose of making you dance. I think its very important to honor the simplicity of these lyrics and these songs because they express an important section of Sudanese society that is often ignored by practitioners of ‘high brow art’ (which tends to be arab, male, and muslim-centered) deeming it artistically lacking.

The release is out on October 21 and will be available for purchase on Bandcamp.

Translation of the lyrics:

My love come lets be one
so long as love has mixed in with the blood,
where is the fault, how could they blame me
oh my love
my love is like mangos and apples,
my love is honey, all else are bland
my love is honey, all else are bland
I would migrate just to be with you
oh my love
I will wait for you by the sea
where the birds have migrated and traveled to
that place where the birds have migrated and traveled to
are you from here, or from Saturn
oh my love
my love come lets quench our longing
and live up high in the sky-towers of london
lets live up high in the sky-towers of london
for the sake of love and decorum
oh my love
I’ll wait for you on Elgash road
my love is gold, the others are copper
my love is gold, the others are copper
love should be like this or not at all
love should be like this or not at all
love should be like this or not at all
love should be like this or not at all