On TV, she spent hours impersonating musicians and dreamed of becoming a musician one day.

She picked up the violin for the first time in 2019. A Somali orchestra consists of 40 musicians, including the 33-year-old.

An ensemble of musicians was brought together for the first time for a series of televised performances in this East African country without an official national orchestra.

It was recorded that men and women dressed in suits and satin played trumpets, drums, and ouds – a traditional string instrument.

In her living room on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Fadumo Hussien, a 70-year-old grandmother, said, “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Growing up, I remember bands playing, but nothing like this.”

Astaan TV, a production company based in Mogadishu, organized the performances to revive Somali music.

One of the event organizers, Mohamed Abdiwali, said, “We brought this orchestra together and gave them a place to rehearse.”

He said, “Now they can play classical Somali music.”.

The carefully crafted shows are then broadcast online and on local TV stations.

The younger generation needs to hear about our history, he said. The Hargeisa Cultural Centre’s director, Jama Musse Jama, explained that Somalia traditionally has had bands with limited instruments.

Due to their size and classical focus, orchestras place a greater emphasis on collaboration and synchronization.

In remarking on the sounds of the Egyptian and Sudanese orchestras, Dr Jama said, “You work together in harmony and build music in harmony.”

He added, “It’s all about coming together.”.

For this project, seasoned instrumentalists and emerging talents, such as Ms Mohamed, were handpicked from across the country.

“I usually play alone or with just a few other people, but nothing like this.”