Sahra Halgan is a Somaliland singer‑songwriter and cultural activist whose music fuses traditional Somali songs with the raw energy of rock, blues, and desert rhythms. Born in Hargeisa, she first sang publicly during the civil war in Somalia while working as a nurse, using music as a form of resilience and resistance. After the war ended in 1991, she moved to France, taking work as a cleaner while raising five children. It was while learning French in Lyon that a social worker recognized the symptoms of PTSD. Through workshops to deal with this condition, Halgan came in contact with musicians and began singing again leading to her 2009 debut, Somaliland, named for her home country which is still largely unrecognized by the international community since declaring independence at the end of the war.

Now an internationally acclaimed artist, Halgan’s work is rooted in Somali poetry and melody, delivered through a powerful voice marked by deep vibrato and emotional intensity. Her songs speak to themes of dignity, identity, love, and political struggle, reflecting both personal history and collective memory. Live, Halgan is commanding and electrifying. Backed by a tight band, her performances blend driving garage‑rock grooves with hypnotic East African rhythms. Expect a set that is defiant and celebratory – music that invites movement while carrying profound emotional weight.

- Shereen Samuels