In 2019, after negotiations spanning many years, Ostinato Records became the first label granted access to the grand Archives of Radiodiffusion-Télévision de Djibouti (RTD), a vault of secrets and stories from East Africa. The first result in our Djibouti Archives series is a seminal anthology of 4 Mars, a 40-member Somali supergroup behind the most streamed and downloaded track on our Grammy-nominated Sweet As Broken Dates compilation. Turkish synths, Jamaican Reggae, American brass, Bollywood vocals, Egyptian and Yemeni rhythms, and Chinese and Mongolian flutes all rendezvous in a corner of East Africa that for centuries served as the world's most brisk trading hub, the midway point connecting Africa, Asia, and the Mediterranean. Ultimately, this is Somali music at it's sassy, soulful, synthesized best. Warmly restored and remastered from digitized master reels and cassettes. Double LP housed in a luxurious matte-finished gatefold sleeve with a poster inspired by the political banners of 1980s Djibouti and a hardcover bookcase CD with a 12-page booklet.
