Musicians, actors and artists

Khadra Dahir Ige (Khadra Daahir Cige)

Khadra Dahir Ige (1957–2022) was a Somali singer from Hargeisa, one of the best-known female singers of the 1970s and 1980s. She joined the Waaberi group in 1974, aged 17. Many of her songs were written by the poet Hassan Ganey. She retired in 2002 and died in Hargeisa on 25 June 2022.

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

Khadra Dahir IgeKhadra Daahir Cige · Kadra Dahir Ige

Lived
1957 to 2022
Era
The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
Sources
1 sources

Who was she?

Khadra Dahir Ige was a Somali singer, and one of the best-known female stars of the 1970s and 1980s (Wikipedia, Khadra Dahir Ige). See Somali music.

Early life

She was born in Hargeisa in 1957, in British Somaliland (Wikipedia). At school she played basketball in national tournaments (same source).

Waaberi

In 1974, aged 17, she joined the dance unit of the national music group Waaberi (Wikipedia). She recalled that in the 1970s Somalis became more accepting of women as singers (same source). Many of her songs were written by the poet Hassan H. Abdullahi, known as Hassan Ganey (same source). Her songs include Afka lagama sheegto adigoon jeceyl arag and Yabaal (1975) (same source).

Later life

She retired from singing in 2002 and lived in Hargeisa (Wikipedia). In February 2012 the website Berbera News ranked her third among 15 artists in its list of "160 Great Somalis" (same source). She died at the International Hospital in Hargeisa on 25 June 2022, aged 65 (same source).

In short

A Hargeisa-born Waaberi singer who was one of the leading female voices of the 1970s and 1980s.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, Khadra Dahir Ige · en.wikipedia.org

Khadra Dahir IgeKhadra Daahir Cige · Kadra Dahir Ige

Lived
1957 to 2022
Era
The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
Sources
1 sources

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