# Ahmed Gacayte (Axmed Gacayte)

> Ahmed Gacayte (1948-1988): Hargeisa singer and composer, a star of Radio Hargeysa.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/ahmed-gacayte/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who was he?

Ahmed Mohamed Yusuf, known as Ahmed Gacayte, was a Somali singer, songwriter and composer born in 1948 in the Xidigta neighbourhood of Hargeisa ([Wikipedia, Ahmed Gacayte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Gacayte)). He took his nickname from his father (same source). [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) declared independence in 1991; Israel recognised it on 26 December 2025; most states and the AU regard it as part of Somalia.

## Music

In 1964 reporters from [Radio Hargeysa](/en/institutions/state-media/) came to his school looking for singers and recruited him ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Gacayte)). In 1965 the station broadcast his first song, "Ahlan wa sahlan Daahir", and his father threw him out of the house in response (same source).

He went on to write songs and plays such as "Bood Xirsi" and "Siyar" with Amina Abdullahi, and composed songs for [Khadra Dahir Cige](/en/people/khadra-dahir-ige/) (same source). His songs include "Inaan Weli Ku Jecelahay", "Ilaah Baa Deeq Baxshee" and "Dulmiga" (same source). See [Somali music](/en/society/somali-music/).

## Death

He was killed in Hargeisa in 1988, aged 40, during the government's assault on the city ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Gacayte)). A man was tried for his killing in 2001 and acquitted (same source).

## In short

A Hargeisa singer and composer whose songs were loved across the Somali world before his death in 1988.

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