Saba Anglana
Encyclopedia
Saba Anglana is a Somali
-Italian
actress and international singer.
, the capital of Somalia
, during the regime of General Mohamed Siad Barre. Her mother was the daughter of an exiled Somali living in neighboring Ethiopia
, and her father was a former Italian military leader who relocated to Somalia from Italy
after the Second World War.
Due to the family's mixed-marriage status, 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. Her Somali roots, however, remained an important focus. She studied the Somali language
with her mother, particularly the regional dialect of Xamar Weyne, connecting with her native country through music.
In 2007, she released her first studio album entitled Jidka: The Line, in which she mixes the traditional sounds of her native Somalia with contemporary Italian flourishes.
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
-Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
actress and international singer.
Biography
Saba was born in MogadishuMogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
, the capital of Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, during the regime of General Mohamed Siad Barre. Her mother was the daughter of an exiled Somali living in neighboring Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, and her father was a former Italian military leader who relocated to Somalia from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
after the Second World War.
Due to the family's mixed-marriage status, the Anglanas were forced to flee to the father's homeland when Saba was five years old. Anglana was thereafter raised in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, eventually rising to national prominence as a television actress. Her Somali roots, however, remained an important focus. She studied the Somali language
Somali language
The Somali language is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Its nearest relatives are Afar and Oromo. Somali is the best documented of the Cushitic languages, with academic studies beginning before 1900....
with her mother, particularly the regional dialect of Xamar Weyne, connecting with her native country through music.
Career
Saba began her artistic career in the 1990s as an actress on Italian television. In a popular local TV series entitled La Squadra, she played a policewoman of dual Somali-Italian heritage.In 2007, she released her first studio album entitled Jidka: The Line, in which she mixes the traditional sounds of her native Somalia with contemporary Italian flourishes.