You know what? - I can deal with the pirates, and the danger, and even the language barrier; none were deterrents for my visit. But according to BBC World News, Somalia has taken measures to assure that my crisp, green, burning vacation dollars never reach their shores. According to BBC, radio stations in Somalia have been urged to take all music off the air, as they are considered 'un-islamic'. And I love radio music.
When I said 'urged' earlier, what I meant to say is that they risked their lives if they were to play any music. According to the article, the only music deemed appropriate to play is being aired on a fraction of the stations and, of course, is approved by government censors. Pretty beat if you ask me.
Let's remember the days when music of all genres, persuasions, and ideologies played endlessly on radios in the African nation of Somalia. I hope one day, I find myself enjoying a drink at a roadside cafe' in Mogadishu, listening to an FM broadcast of Johnny Cash singing Amazing Grace, as I plan to safely sail, unarmed, to Egypt. One day.
Or maybe they will revolt. Its not likely, but it could happen. It'd be like Pirate Radio, a few dedicated souls, blanketing the airwaves with sounds of yore: uncensored radio. Just maybe. I would certainly enjoy it. I'd even blog about it.
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