# Khadija Qalanjo (Khadiija Qalanjo)

> Khadija Qalanjo (1950 to 2025): singer and dancer from Borama, Waaberi band star and the first Miss Somalia.

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

## Who was she?

Khadija Qalanjo was a Somali singer and folklore dancer, popular in the 1970s and 1980s ([Wikipedia, Khadija Qalanjo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khadija_Qalanjo)). She was the first Miss Somalia (same source). Her full name was Khadija Mohamud Yusuf ([Goobjoog News, 30 August 2025](https://en.goobjoog.com/somalia-mourns-legendary-singer-khadija-qalanjo)). Kaab TV called her "a legendary singer, cultural pioneer" ([Kaab TV, 1 September 2025](https://en.kaabtv.com/?p=14550)).

## Early life

She was born in [Borama](/en/regions/awdal/), in the Awdal region, in 1950 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khadija_Qalanjo)). Wikipedia gives her birth date as 11 May 1950 (same source). Her family is Samaroon (Gadabuursi), of the Jibril Younis branch (same source). Kaab TV also places her birth in Borama, around 1950 ([Kaab TV](https://en.kaabtv.com/?p=14550)).

## Waaberi and the national stage

She rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s as a singer and dancer (same source). She was a leading member of the Waaberi band, the national music ensemble ([Goobjoog News](https://en.goobjoog.com/somalia-mourns-legendary-singer-khadija-qalanjo)). Waaberi grew into a cultural symbol across the Horn of Africa (same source). Somali National Television began broadcasting in October 1983 (same source). Her songs were among the first it put on air (same source). See [Somali music](/en/society/somali-music/) and [media in Somalia](/en/society/media-in-somalia/).

## Her music

At the time, many Somali songs were sung without instruments ([Kaab TV](https://en.kaabtv.com/?p=14550)). She brought modern instruments into the traditional dhaanto and Sayliciga forms (same source). Kaab TV praised her "powerful voice and stage presence" (same source).

Her best known songs include "Caashaqa Sal iyo Baar", "Ragga iyo Haweenkuba", "Sharaf" and "Hooyo" ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khadija_Qalanjo)). She sang the duet "Soo Hor Caashaqa" with [Hasan Adan Samatar](/en/people/hasan-adan-samatar/) (same source). In 2016 the Ethiopian group Jano Band recorded a cover of her song "Diriyam" (same source).

## Death and tributes

She died at the end of August 2025, aged 75 ([Goobjoog News](https://en.goobjoog.com/somalia-mourns-legendary-singer-khadija-qalanjo)). Reports differ on the day and place. Wikipedia gives 30 August ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khadija_Qalanjo)). Kaab TV gives Friday, 29 August ([Kaab TV](https://en.kaabtv.com/?p=14550)). [Goobjoog](/en/economy/somali-media-companies/) reports that she died in Hargeisa ([Goobjoog News](https://en.goobjoog.com/somalia-mourns-legendary-singer-khadija-qalanjo)). Kaab TV reports that she was buried in Borama at the Sog-Sogley cemetery ([Kaab TV](https://en.kaabtv.com/?p=14550)).

Somalia's Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism paid tribute to her ([Goobjoog News](https://en.goobjoog.com/somalia-mourns-legendary-singer-khadija-qalanjo)). It called her death "a great loss to the Somali nation" (same source). Grief was shared in Somalia and among Somalis abroad (same source).

## In short

A singer and dancer from Awdal, a Waaberi band member and the first Miss Somalia. Kaab TV described her as a role model for Somali women in a field long led by men ([Kaab TV](https://en.kaabtv.com/?p=14550)).

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