Musicians, actors and artists
Faysal Ahmed (Faysal Axmed)
Faysal Ahmed is a Somali actor based in Minneapolis. Raised in Yemen, he moved to the United States as a teenager in 1999, was cast from a 2011 open call in Cedar-Riverside to play the hijacker Najee in Captain Phillips (2013), and has since appeared in Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Castle Rock and Little America.
Faysal AhmedFaysal Axmed
- Known as one of
- Musicians, actors and artists
- Era
- The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 1 sources
Who is he?
Faysal Ahmed is a Somali actor based in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Wikipedia, Faysal Ahmed). Wikipedia gives two birth years, 1993 in its lead and 1985 in its early-life section; he was born in Yemen to a family from Somalia, one of nine children (same source). In 1999 he moved to the United States with his mother and some siblings (same source). See Somalis in Minneapolis-St Paul.
Acting
He worked as youth programme coordinator at the Bedlam Theater in Minneapolis (Wikipedia). In 2011 he was one of four actors chosen from more than 700 people at a casting call at the Brian Coyle Community Center in Cedar-Riverside (same source). In Captain Phillips (2013) he played Najee, one of the hijackers, alongside Barkhad Abdi (same source).
His other screen work includes (same source):
- A Stray (2016)
- Watu Wote: All of Us (2017)
- Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)
- Castle Rock, season two (2019), again with Barkhad Abdi
- Little America (2022)
In short
A Minneapolis actor who broke through in Captain Phillips and has worked in film and television since.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Faysal Ahmed · en.wikipedia.org
Faysal AhmedFaysal Axmed
- Known as one of
- Musicians, actors and artists
- Era
- The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 1 sources
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with Faysal Ahmed (Faysal Axmed)? Tell us what you can give.
I want to help with this
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Hasan Adan Samatar (Xasan Aadan Samatar)Hasan Adan Samatar, born 1953 in Diinsoor: Waaberi singer, guitarist and actor with over 200 songs, in standard Somali and Maay.
- Saado Ali Warsame (Saado Cali Warsame)Saado Ali Warsame (1950–2014): Somali singer-songwriter of justice and unity, Minneapolis resident, and member of the Federal Parliament from 2012.
- K'naan (Keynaan Cabdi Warsame)K'naan, born 1978 in Mogadishu: Somali-Canadian rapper behind 'Wavin' Flag', Juno winner and 2024 Grammy winner.
- Abdi Sinimo (Cabdi Sinimo)Abdi Sinimo (c. 1920–1967): creator of the balwo song, the starting point of modern Somali music, Borama 1944.
- Abdullahi Qarshe (Cabdullaahi Qarshe)Abdullahi Qarshe (1924–1994): oud pioneer of the heello and composer credited with Somalia's anthem Qolobaa Calankeed.
- Maryam Mursal (Maryan Mursal)Maryam Mursal (born 1950): Somali jazz singer from Mogadishu who rebuilt her career in exile with Real World Records.