Saba

Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, to an Ethiopian mother and Italian father, Saba Anglana relocated to Italy at five after her parents faced pressure to depart their homeland because of hostility toward their interracial union. Those experiences, along with parallel biases encountered while growing up, shaped her outlook and prompted a determination to confront racism through every available form of expression. She pursued acting and gained notice across Italy for her recurring portrayal of Katia Ricci, a black police officer confronting prejudice both within and beyond the force, in seasons two and three of the television series La Squadra.

Saba’s recordings examine the intricate ties between Italy and Somalia, the latter a onetime Italian colony. Her 2007 debut album, Jidka, features vocals delivered primarily in the Somalian tongue, yet its international character emerges through contributions from Tatè Nsongan of Cameroon on guitar and djembe, Lao Kouyate of Senegal on kora, and vocalist Felix Moungara. Her singing combines a clear, crystalline tone with a resilient edge that echoes the album’s title, which refers to the artificial boundaries of race, colour, culture, and language that divide people. Among the standout tracks, many of which carry her own music and lyrics, are ‘I Sogni’, ‘Hoio’, ‘Manta’, ‘Melissa’, and ‘Huwauahuwa’.