Hi,
I'm a Somali of Indian descent who watched the movie Black Hawk Down. I'm not going to take the time to comment on the film but I will comment on the soundtrack. Just hear me out.
It's strange to hear a Senegalese singer crying out strange sounding African chants to the beat of drums. But of course in this film the Somalis were portrayed by Senegalese refugees in Morocco and the music on this sound track is their west african music not Somali --remember that. Hans Zimmer and Ridley Scott defined the Somali people on their own terms. "they're african beasts." - let's make up our own music about what we pictured them to be. I keep hearing about people talking about The Somali voices? THe haunting songs? The somali chants?
1) Of course all africans must sound the same, look the same, talk the same to hollywood but i'm sorry there is a difference. Somalia has a distinct type of music and there are countless somali musicians out there with powerful songs more hauntingly sad than Baaba maals will ever be -- because the Somalis were the ones who suffered. (I hate the evil warlords who ruined my country but the somali people - the civilians suffered. ALmost a million died. 
2) What does a regular Somali look like?? This movie is grossly inaccurate from the way they dress, the way they look, and they speak some other language in the movie. NOT SOMALI.
Go to link to see a Somali wearing Somali clothes and different people of Somalia. I miss Somalia and I love Somalia, I hate the people who ruined my country, but no matter how ugly a picture of Somalia people may have because of the movie- its my country.
http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/TimesSquare/peter1999/
http://www.ethiopiafirst.com/images/Tourism/Afar-Gold2.JPG
http://picturenet.co.za/gallery/giacomo/fb44.jpg
http://www.ethiopiafirst.com/images/Tourism/Somali-lady1.JPG
http://unicorn.ncat.edu/~michael/vses/eth4000/gifs/harar.jpeg
http://unicorn.ncat.edu/~michael/vses/eth4000/gifs/ben.jpeg
http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/TimesSquare/peter1999/Somalia_Man.jpg
3) Read about the music:
The language and traditional music of Somalia is a mixture of unique African, East Indian, Arabic and even Asian influences. Somalia is the furthest east of any country in Africa, and has had longer contact with India than any other country in Africa. That is why often there are Indian beats in Somali music.
Trade and migration of African and Arabic nomadic tribes has contributed to the cultural exchange for centuries. West Indian lutes and frame drums found their way to the region via Egypt, long before Islam. The native Puntites (Somalis) were trading with the Ancient Egyptians as far back as 3000 B.C. Queen HatshepsutĄ¯s trade in 2200 B.C was the first which mentioned that Egyptian instruments were brought to Somalia.
Somalia has had ancient ties to Arabia and much of its music has influenced and was influenced by the music of Yemen. Most songs are performed in unison: the Arabic oud is central but it is displayed in a distinctly Somali style. The scales are predominantly pentatonic but, especially when sung, they often include embellishments, inflections, and tuning strongly influenced by Arabic microtonal scales. The result is an appealing hybrid music and songs that make Westerners think of a special Somali Blues.
4) Listen to the music:
http://www.cdnow.com/switch/from=sr-4334851/target=buyweb_products/ArtistID=FRN-MURSAL *MARYAM
OR TRY
http://ubl.artistdirect.com/store/artist/album/0,,339813,00.html
YOU WILL SURELY COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT BLACK HAWK DOWN'S AFRICAN CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOUND TRACK MAY SOUND FABULOUS BUT JUST REMEMBER THEY ARE NOT SOMALI AND I'M NOT SAYING THEY HAVE TO BE SOMALI. BUT THE MOVIES SOUNDTRACK CUTS THE HEART OUT OF THE SADDEST SOMALI MUSIC EVER MADE AND CHANGES IT INTO A CELEBRATION OF HAPPY SOUNDING SENEGALESE SINGERS. AND THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO JUST HOW INACCURATE THIS MOVIE IS.
Other than that I really like the Irish songs they had in there. The Minstrel Song was really good. I thought that was the best one in there. 
