Musicians, actors and artists

Aar Maanta

Aar Maanta (born Hassan-Nour Sayid in Jigjiga) is a Somali-British singer-songwriter, actor and producer based in London. He blends traditional Somali music, including the oud-based qaraami style, with modern genres. His debut album Hiddo & Dhaqan came out in 2008, and he formed a multinational live band in London.

Last checked 2026-11-12 1 source Reading time: 1 min

Aar MaantaHassan-Nour Sayid · Xasan Nuur Sayid

Era
Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
Sources
1 sources

Who is he?

Aar Maanta, born Hassan-Nour Sayid, is a Somali-British singer-songwriter, actor, composer, instrumentalist and producer (Wikipedia, Aar Maanta). He was born in Jigjiga in the Somali Region of Ethiopia and moved to the United Kingdom alone as a child at the end of the 1980s (same source). See Somalis in London.

He studied music at school and university, then took a science degree under family pressure before returning to singing (same source).

Music

His music mixes many styles with traditional Somali music, including the oud-based qaraami love songs of the 1940s, and has been called "afro-hop" (Wikipedia). In 2006 he performed at Rise: London United, a festival attended by more than 80,000 people (same source). He has worked with the Raï singer Abdelkader Saadoun and the Somali musicians Maryam Mursal and Hudeidi (same source).

He recorded his debut album, Hiddo & Dhaqan, in his home studio and released it in 2008 (same source). He then set up a multinational live band in London to play Somali music (same source).

In short

A Jigjiga-born, London-based musician who mixes classic Somali song with modern genres.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, Aar Maanta · en.wikipedia.org

Aar MaantaHassan-Nour Sayid · Xasan Nuur Sayid

Era
Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
Sources
1 sources

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