Aar Maanta - Deeqa....

[gedo_gurl]

Disguised as a love song ‘Deeqa’ and its video highlight the injustice Somali people receive at airports around the globe.

June 23, 2010 — Deeqa is the long awaited single from the UK based Somali singer/songwriter Aar Maanta’s debut album ‘Hiddo iyo Dhaqan’ and is set for general release with the new acoustic version of the song on July 25th 2010.

‘Maanta’ was one of Aar’s most popular earlier singles and he quickly became synonymous with the title of the song, so much so that he decided to change his name from simply ‘Aar’ or ‘Lion’ in the Somali language, to his current name ‘Aar Maanta’. Aar began his interest in music to deal with the solitude of living in London without his family when he escaped civil war in Somalia. Although the urban music styles around London have a strong presence in his music, it is the Somali influences which resonate the strongest. This is apparent even in his choice of title for the album, Hiddo iyo Dhaqan literally translating into ‘Custom and Culture’.

The single Deeqa, is written in the traditional Somali poetic form using allegory and alliteration. The word ‘Deeqa’ is not only a popular name for Somali women meaning ‘suffice’, ‘generosity’ or ‘gift’ it was also another name for the now defunct Somalia Airlines. Deeqa is a protest song written to highlight the injustice Somali people receive at airports around the globe. Aar himself was held in custody after he was reported to police by staff at Heathrow airport upon returning from his homeland.

Sadly he is not alone, many people of Somali ethnicity have been given the same, if not worse treatment at airports, some imprisoned and released without charge after weeks or even months of imprisonment. The ‘War on Terror’ and the governments that neglect their duty to citizens are to blame, believes Aar as there is no law against going to any Somali region.

The video for the single is based on Aar Maanta’s own experiences at Heathrow airport where he was arrested and mistreated on several occasions by police and airport officials. Both the video and the song discuss the issues of identity, citizenship and racism.

[CoolPoisons]

men who sing are not men

[gedo_gurl]

Somalida sure know how to hate man

[BlackVelvet]

@ are you being racist sir?

Side note; Aar means lion? I thought it was libaax

[CoolPoisons]

gedogurl, im not hating. Singing's not for men.

Diinta ma ogola and its not in our culture

[SultanOrder]

@ cool war are you sure your ahlul sunnah cuz during mowlids the men sing very good.

BV it means the male lion

[CoolPoisons]

@ cool war are you sure your ahlul sunnah cuz during mowlids the men sing very good.

BV it means the male lion

war waxaas waa dhikr balaayo kugu dhacdey

[surrender]

men who sing are not men

were you not the one who posting thoese fruity songs saying, ala caashaq baa ihaya e xageen aada? now you dont like men who sing, what is the different between men who sing and those who listen?

[CoolPoisons]

surrender, what's Ur beef with me? weligey kumaanan maagin. all of a sudden ayaa attack igu bilowdey.

maxaan galabsadey?

[yasmin]

^^ runtay kuu sheegeysaa

[abdisamad3]

Somalida sure know how to hate man

and garoobs sure know how to generalise.

[surrender]

surrender, what's Ur beef with me? weligey kumaanan maagin. all of a sudden ayaa attack igu bilowdey.

maxaan galabsadey?

ina adeer i have no beef with you, you must not get angry at that comment. i was only pointing out the obvious. is was last week as i recall, that you were listening to love songs, now you dont like men who sing those songs? see how stupid it sounds. Jimco wanaagsan.

[Dhaga Bacayl]

Aar manta is very talented and different kind of “somali” singer. I like the fact that he thinks outside of the box when it comes to Somali music.

[zulaika]

great video

lol @ the somali airline flight attendant. they should be more creative in the outfit, something with a somali flare...

[SahanGalbeed]

Good vid