# Musicians, actors and artists | Calankii

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/music-arts/
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

# Musicians, actors and artists

All 42 pages in Musicians, actors and artists, from A to Z.

Last checked **2026-11-12**

- [Aar MaantaAar Maanta: London-based Somali singer-songwriter who fuses qaraami with modern styles; album Hiddo & Dhaqan (2008).](https://calankii.com/en/people/aar-maanta/)
- [Abdi Sinimo (Cabdi Sinimo)Abdi Sinimo (c. 1920–1967): creator of the balwo song, the starting point of modern Somali music, Borama 1944.](https://calankii.com/en/people/abdi-sinimo/)
- [Abdo Xamar QoodhAbdo Xamar Qoodh (1949-1991): Djiboutian Somali singer and composer from Ali Sabieh, known for Dhooley.](https://calankii.com/en/people/abdo-xamar-qoodh/)
- [Abdulkadir Ahmed Said (Cabdulqaadir Axmed Saciid)Abdulkadir Ahmed Said (born 1953): Somali filmmaker, director of Geedka nolosha (1988) and La Conchiglia (1992).](https://calankii.com/en/people/abdulkadir-ahmed-said/)
- [Abdullahi Qarshe (Cabdullaahi Qarshe)Abdullahi Qarshe (1924–1994): oud pioneer of the heello and composer credited with Somalia's anthem Qolobaa Calankeed.](https://calankii.com/en/people/abdullahi-qarshe/)
- [Aden Farah SamatarAden Farah Samatar: Djiboutian Somali singer and poet of Group Arreh, a pioneer of independence-era music.](https://calankii.com/en/people/aden-farah-samatar/)
- [Ahmed Gacayte (Axmed Gacayte)Ahmed Gacayte (1948-1988): Hargeisa singer and composer, a star of Radio Hargeysa.](https://calankii.com/en/people/ahmed-gacayte/)
- [Ali Feiruz (Cali Fayruus)Ali Feiruz (1931 to 1994): oud player and composer, Radio Hargeisa and Waaberi.](https://calankii.com/en/people/ali-feiruz/)
- [Amin Amir (Amiin Caamir)Amin Amir: Edmonton-based Somali cartoonist known as Amin Arts, Hiiraan Online Person of the Year 2004.](https://calankii.com/en/people/amin-amir/)
- [Barkhad Abdi (Barkhad Cabdi)Barkhad Abdi (born 1985): Somali-American actor, BAFTA winner for Captain Phillips.](https://calankii.com/en/people/barkhad-abdi/)
- [Barni Ahmed Qaasim (Barni Axmed Qaasim)Barni Ahmed Qaasim: Somali documentary filmmaker in Arizona, director of Catching Babies.](https://calankii.com/en/people/barni-ahmed-qaasim/)
- [Baxsan (Seynab Xaaji Cali Siigaale)Baxsan (1935-2020): pioneering Somali woman singer and actress, partner of Magool and Guduudo Carwo.](https://calankii.com/en/people/baxsan/)
- [Chunkz (Amin Mohamed)Chunkz (born 1996): British-Somali YouTuber and presenter, member of Beta Squad.](https://calankii.com/en/people/chunkz/)
- [Elisa Kadigia Bove (Khadiija Bove)Elisa Kadigia Bove (born 1942): Italian-Somali actress and singer who heads an African immigrant women's association.](https://calankii.com/en/people/elisa-kadigia-bove/)
- [Faysal Ahmed (Faysal Axmed)Faysal Ahmed: Minneapolis Somali actor who played Najee in Captain Phillips (2013).](https://calankii.com/en/people/faysal-ahmed/)
- [Guduuda 'Arwo (Shamis Abokor Ismail)Guduuda 'Arwo (Shamis Abokor Ismail): Radio Hargeisa singer from 1953, first woman recording vocalist in the north.](https://calankii.com/en/people/guduuda-arwo/)
- [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/hasan-adan-samatar/)
- [Hibo Nuura (Hibo Maxamed Nuur)Hibo Nuura (born 1954): Waaberi singer from Awdal, a leading voice of Somali love songs and national songs.](https://calankii.com/en/people/hibo-nuura/)
- [Hudeidi (Xudeydi)Hudeidi (1928-2020): Somali oud master who learned from Abdullahi Qarshe and later lived in London.](https://calankii.com/en/people/hudeidi/)
- [Ibrahim Mursal WarsameIbrahim Mursal (b.1990): Somali-born Norwegian filmmaker, director of The Art of Sin.](https://calankii.com/en/people/ibrahim-mursal/)
- [Jiim Sheikh Muumin (Jiim Sheekh Muumin)Jiim Sheikh Muumin (c.1945-2021): Somali musician and actor who stayed in Mogadishu.](https://calankii.com/en/people/jiim-sheikh-muumin/)
- [Jonis Bascir (Yoonis Bashiir)Jonis Bascir (born 1960): Somali-Italian actor in Un medico in famiglia and musician, grandson of Haji Bashir Ismail Yusuf.](https://calankii.com/en/people/jonis-bascir/)
- [K'naan (Keynaan Cabdi Warsame)K'naan, born 1978 in Mogadishu: Somali-Canadian rapper behind 'Wavin' Flag', Juno winner and 2024 Grammy winner.](https://calankii.com/en/people/knaan/)
- [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/khadar-ayderus-ahmed/)
- [Khadija Qalanjo (Khadiija Qalanjo)Khadija Qalanjo (1950 to 2025): singer and dancer from Borama, Waaberi band star and the first Miss Somalia.](https://calankii.com/en/people/khadija-qalanjo/)
- [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/khadra-dahir-ige/)
- [Luciano CeriLuciano Ceri (b.1951): Mogadishu-born Italian singer-songwriter and music journalist.](https://calankii.com/en/people/luciano-ceri/)
- [Lula Ali Ismaïl (Luula Cali Ismaaciil)Lula Ali Ismaïl (b.1978): first Djiboutian woman filmmaker; Dhalinyaro (2017) is Djibouti's first feature.](https://calankii.com/en/people/lula-ali-ismail/)
- [Luul Jeylaani (Lul Jeylani Ali)Luul Jeylaani (1950-2024): Waaberi singer known as Maama Luul.](https://calankii.com/en/people/lul-jeylani-ali/)
- [Magool (Xaliimo Khaliif Cumar)Magool (1948–2004): Dhuusamareeb-born singer, the 'Mother of Artistry', voice of Hadraawi's and Ali Sugulle's songs.](https://calankii.com/en/people/magool/)
- [Maryam Mursal (Maryan Mursal)Maryam Mursal (born 1950): Somali jazz singer from Mogadishu who rebuilt her career in exile with Real World Records.](https://calankii.com/en/people/maryam-mursal/)
- [Mo Ali (Maxamed Cali)Mo Ali: Somali-British director of Shank (2010), Montana (2014) and episodes of COBRA and Hijack.](https://calankii.com/en/people/mo-ali/)
- [Mo Harawe (Maxamed Harawe)Mo Harawe (born 1992): Mogadishu-born Austrian filmmaker of The Village Next to Paradise (Cannes 2024).](https://calankii.com/en/people/mo-harawe/)
- [Mohamed Mooge Liibaan (Maxamed Mooge Liibaan)Mohamed Mooge Liibaan (d. 1984): Hargeisa singer and Waaberi oud player who became an early SNM leader.](https://calankii.com/en/people/mohamed-mooge-liibaan/)
- [Mohamed Sulayman Tubeec (Maxamed Saleebaan Tubeec)Mohamed Sulayman Tubeec (1941–2014): singer of Walaalaha Hargeisa and Waaberi, given a state funeral in Mogadishu.](https://calankii.com/en/people/mohamed-sulayman-tubeec/)
- [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/nasib-farah/)
- [Nimco HappyNimco Happy: Somali singer whose song Isii Nafta went viral on TikTok in 2021.](https://calankii.com/en/people/nimco-happy/)
- [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/omar-dhuule/)
- [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.](https://calankii.com/en/people/saado-ali-warsame/)
- [Saba AnglanaSaba Anglana (born 1970): Mogadishu-born Italian singer and actor, album Jidka (2007), novel La signora meraviglia (2024).](https://calankii.com/en/people/saba-anglana/)
- [Sahra Halgan (Sahra Xalgan)Sahra Halgan (born 1972): Hargeisa singer who recorded in Lyon and founded a music centre in Hargeisa.](https://calankii.com/en/people/sahra-halgan/)
- [Skinz (Mohamed Ahmed)Skinz: Danish singer of Somali descent on Universal Music Denmark.](https://calankii.com/en/people/skinz/)

Last checked 2026-11-12

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