- Aar MaantaAar Maanta: London-based Somali singer-songwriter who fuses qaraami with modern styles; album Hiddo & Dhaqan (2008).
- Abdi Sinimo (Cabdi Sinimo)Abdi Sinimo (c. 1920–1967): creator of the balwo song, the starting point of modern Somali music, Borama 1944.
- Abdo Xamar QoodhAbdo Xamar Qoodh (1949-1991): Djiboutian Somali singer and composer from Ali Sabieh, known for Dhooley.
- Abdulkadir Ahmed Said (Cabdulqaadir Axmed Saciid)Abdulkadir Ahmed Said (born 1953): Somali filmmaker, director of Geedka nolosha (1988) and La Conchiglia (1992).
- Abdullahi Qarshe (Cabdullaahi Qarshe)Abdullahi Qarshe (1924–1994): oud pioneer of the heello and composer credited with Somalia's anthem Qolobaa Calankeed.
- Aden Farah SamatarAden Farah Samatar: Djiboutian Somali singer and poet of Group Arreh, a pioneer of independence-era music.
- Ahmed Gacayte (Axmed Gacayte)Ahmed Gacayte (1948-1988): Hargeisa singer and composer, a star of Radio Hargeysa.
- Ali Feiruz (Cali Fayruus)Ali Feiruz (1931 to 1994): oud player and composer, Radio Hargeisa and Waaberi.
- Amin Amir (Amiin Caamir)Amin Amir: Edmonton-based Somali cartoonist known as Amin Arts, Hiiraan Online Person of the Year 2004.
- Barkhad Abdi (Barkhad Cabdi)Barkhad Abdi (born 1985): Somali-American actor, BAFTA winner for Captain Phillips.
- Barni Ahmed Qaasim (Barni Axmed Qaasim)Barni Ahmed Qaasim: Somali documentary filmmaker in Arizona, director of Catching Babies.
- Baxsan (Seynab Xaaji Cali Siigaale)Baxsan (1935-2020): pioneering Somali woman singer and actress, partner of Magool and Guduudo Carwo.
- Chunkz (Amin Mohamed)Chunkz (born 1996): British-Somali YouTuber and presenter, member of Beta Squad.
- Elisa Kadigia Bove (Khadiija Bove)Elisa Kadigia Bove (born 1942): Italian-Somali actress and singer who heads an African immigrant women's association.
- Faysal Ahmed (Faysal Axmed)Faysal Ahmed: Minneapolis Somali actor who played Najee in Captain Phillips (2013).
- Guduuda 'Arwo (Shamis Abokor Ismail)Guduuda 'Arwo (Shamis Abokor Ismail): Radio Hargeisa singer from 1953, first woman recording vocalist in the north.
- 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.
- Hibo Nuura (Hibo Maxamed Nuur)Hibo Nuura (born 1954): Waaberi singer from Awdal, a leading voice of Somali love songs and national songs.
- Hudeidi (Xudeydi)Hudeidi (1928-2020): Somali oud master who learned from Abdullahi Qarshe and later lived in London.
- Ibrahim Mursal WarsameIbrahim Mursal (b.1990): Somali-born Norwegian filmmaker, director of The Art of Sin.
- Jiim Sheikh Muumin (Jiim Sheekh Muumin)Jiim Sheikh Muumin (c.1945-2021): Somali musician and actor who stayed in Mogadishu.
- Jonis Bascir (Yoonis Bashiir)Jonis Bascir (born 1960): Somali-Italian actor in Un medico in famiglia and musician, grandson of Haji Bashir Ismail Yusuf.
- K'naan (Keynaan Cabdi Warsame)K'naan, born 1978 in Mogadishu: Somali-Canadian rapper behind 'Wavin' Flag', Juno winner and 2024 Grammy winner.
- Khadar Ayderus Ahmed (Khadar Cayderuus Axmed)Khadar Ayderus Ahmed (born 1981): Finnish-Somali director of The Gravedigger's Wife, FESPACO winner and Somalia's first Oscar entry.
- Khadija Qalanjo (Khadiija Qalanjo)Khadija Qalanjo (1950 to 2025): singer and dancer from Borama, Waaberi band star and the first Miss Somalia.
- Khadra Dahir Ige (Khadra Daahir Cige)Khadra Dahir Ige (1957–2022): Hargeisa-born Waaberi singer, one of the leading female voices of the 1970s and 1980s.
- Luciano CeriLuciano Ceri (b.1951): Mogadishu-born Italian singer-songwriter and music journalist.
- Lula Ali Ismaïl (Luula Cali Ismaaciil)Lula Ali Ismaïl (b.1978): first Djiboutian woman filmmaker; Dhalinyaro (2017) is Djibouti's first feature.
- Luul Jeylaani (Lul Jeylani Ali)Luul Jeylaani (1950-2024): Waaberi singer known as Maama Luul.
- Magool (Xaliimo Khaliif Cumar)Magool (1948–2004): Dhuusamareeb-born singer, the 'Mother of Artistry', voice of Hadraawi's and Ali Sugulle's songs.
- Maryam Mursal (Maryan Mursal)Maryam Mursal (born 1950): Somali jazz singer from Mogadishu who rebuilt her career in exile with Real World Records.
- Mo Ali (Maxamed Cali)Mo Ali: Somali-British director of Shank (2010), Montana (2014) and episodes of COBRA and Hijack.
- Mo Harawe (Maxamed Harawe)Mo Harawe (born 1992): Mogadishu-born Austrian filmmaker of The Village Next to Paradise (Cannes 2024).
- Mohamed Mooge Liibaan (Maxamed Mooge Liibaan)Mohamed Mooge Liibaan (d. 1984): Hargeisa singer and Waaberi oud player who became an early SNM leader.
- Mohamed Sulayman Tubeec (Maxamed Saleebaan Tubeec)Mohamed Sulayman Tubeec (1941–2014): singer of Walaalaha Hargeisa and Waaberi, given a state funeral in Mogadishu.
- Nasib Farah (Nasiib Faarax)Nasib Farah (born 1981): Danish-Somali director of Warriors from the North and Lost Warrior, on young Danish Somalis and al-Shabaab.
- Nimco HappyNimco Happy: Somali singer whose song Isii Nafta went viral on TikTok in 2021.
- Omar Dhuule (Cumar Dhuule Cali)Omar Dhuule (1941–2005): Burao-born singer and oud player of the Waaberi troupe, known as the King of Qaaci.
- 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.
- Saba AnglanaSaba Anglana (born 1970): Mogadishu-born Italian singer and actor, album Jidka (2007), novel La signora meraviglia (2024).
- Sahra Halgan (Sahra Xalgan)Sahra Halgan (born 1972): Hargeisa singer who recorded in Lyon and founded a music centre in Hargeisa.
- Skinz (Mohamed Ahmed)Skinz: Danish singer of Somali descent on Universal Music Denmark.
Musicians, actors and artists
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