Live Round in Djibouti

Senior Master Sgt. Larry Hill, U.S. Central Command Air Forces Band, is interviewed by disc jockey Kassin Ramadon, Radio Television Djibouti on Jan. 25, 2008 in Djibouti, Africa.The CENTAF Band will be featured live on the French Radio circuit and broadcast on the AM Somali radio station. This interview was also videotaped and will be viewed by more than 400,000 Djiboutians on Radio Television Djibouti in French, Somali, Arabic, and Afar. This is the first time any American Military Band has been featured on Radio Television in this area of the world. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Christina M. Styer)

Live Round goes "Live" in Djibouti

Published Jan. 28, 2008
By Tech. Sgt. Joel Langton
U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs

DJIBOUTI -- More than 400,000 people in Djibouti heard the U.S. Central Air Forces Band Live Round Saturday on the state-run Radio Television Djibouti.

It was the first live performance on the radio station by a band in 27 years. "We were very excited to have this band and wanted to let the people of Djibouti hear them," said Abdoul Kader Ahmed Idriss, RTD assistant manager.

The rock band is a blend of members from the Air Force Academy Band at Colorado Springs, Colo. and the Band of Mid-America at Scott AFB, Ill. and is touring Southwest Asia together.

The station's assistant manager said 80 percent of Djibouti's 500,000 residents listen to the station's broadcasts, which are in French.

"It was a great privilege for us to be on this station," said Senior Master Sgt. Larry Hill, tour coordinator. "We know this is the station the majority of Djiboutians listen to and it's a great way to share our message with this nation."

The show was scheduled for 30 minutes, but the disc jockey, Mr. Kassin Ramadan, enjoyed the band so much, he took an extra half hour with the band.

"That surprised us some," said Christy Stoner, American Embassy in Djibouti's public affairs officer who was instrumental in arranging the visit. "But, it's indicative of how well the band has been received during their time here. The Djiboutian people have loved Live Round."

Carrying the band's amazing music and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa's messages even further is RTD's television station, which will translate the band's message into French, Somali, Arabic and Afar and transmit it throughout the region during the Saturday evening broadcast.

The station said they'll also put a portion of the show on their AM station, which is in Somali and goes into much of North Africa and Southwest Asia.

Mr. Ramadan said he was amazed by the military musicians' talent. "It's a bit weird to see musicians in the military this good," he said. "It also changes my view of the American military. Getting to know this band and see how they're reaching out to the community really impressed me and showed me they're good people."