Musicians, actors and artists
Maryam Mursal (Maryan Mursal)
Maryam Mursal (born 1950) is a Somali singer and composer. She began singing in Mogadishu in 1966, at a time when few women sang in public, and became a national star with a sound called Somali jazz. After a seven-month escape with her five children during the civil war, she settled in Denmark and recorded New Dawn (1997) and The Journey (1998) for Real World Records.
Maryam MursalMaryan Mursal · Mariam Mursal
- Lived
- 1950 to today
- Known as one of
- Musicians, actors and artists
- Era
- The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012
- Sources
- 3 sources
Who is she?
Maryam Mursal is a Somali composer and singer, born on 1 January 1950 (Wikipedia, Maryam Mursal). Real World Records describes her as one of Somalia's biggest stars (Real World Records, Maryam Mursal). Music in Africa names her among the country's greatest women singers (Music in Africa, "Somali music through the ages").
Early life and first songs
Her family came from Borama (Wikipedia). As a teenager she began singing professionally in Mogadishu (same source). Real World dates her start to 1966 (Real World Records). Few women performed in public then, so this broke with custom (Wikipedia).
Somali jazz
Her music mixed Somali and Arabic sounds with blues and soul. It became known as Somali jazz and was popular across the country (Wikipedia). She also sang with Waaberi, the large troupe of the Somali National Theatre (same source). See Somali music.
Two years without singing
Her song "Ulimada" criticised the military government. She was banned from performing for about two years (Real World Records). In that time she earned her living driving a taxi (Wikipedia).
The journey
When civil war spread, she left with her five children. The journey across the Horn of Africa took seven months (Real World Records). In Djibouti the Danish embassy gave the family asylum (same source). See Somalis in Denmark and Somalis in Djibouti.
A second career in exile
In Denmark she met again the arranger Søren Kjær Jensen, who had recorded her years before (Real World Records). Real World released New Dawn in 1997, made with members of Waaberi (same source). The Journey followed in 1998, with Peter Gabriel on backing vocals (same source). She sang at WOMAD in 1997. She has appeared with Nina Simone (Wikipedia).
In her words
"I am a refugee but I am also a singer," she said (Real World Records).
In short
A singer who was among the first Somali women on the professional stage and later recorded abroad.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Maryam Mursal · en.wikipedia.org
- Real World Records, Maryam Mursal · realworldrecords.com
- Music in Africa, "Somali music through the ages" · musicinafrica.net
Maryam MursalMaryan Mursal · Mariam Mursal
- Lived
- 1950 to today
- Known as one of
- Musicians, actors and artists
- Era
- The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012
- Sources
- 3 sources
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Where this matters
Same era
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