# Sahra Halgan (Sahra Xalgan)

> Sahra Halgan (born 1972): Hargeisa singer who recorded in Lyon and founded a music centre in Hargeisa.

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

## Who is she?

Sahra Ahmed Mohamoud, known on stage as Sahra Halgan, is a Somali singer and cultural activist born in Hargeisa in 1972 ([Wikipedia, Sahra Halgan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahra_Halgan)). She began singing at thirteen, though singing in public was frowned upon in her community (same source). [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) declared independence in 1991; Israel recognised it on 26 December 2025; most states and the AU regard it as part of Somalia.

## 1988

In 1988 the government of [Siad Barre](/en/people/siad-barre/) launched heavy bombing focused on Hargeisa against the Somali National Movement (SNM) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahra_Halgan)). Aged sixteen and without training, she worked as a nurse for the SNM (same source). She later said that at the front she felt free, because the soldiers were too busy to stop her singing (same source).

## Music

She then took refuge in France, settled in Lyon with political refugee status, and returned to music ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahra_Halgan)). Her albums are (same source):

- *Somaliland*, 2009
- *Faransiskiyo Somaliland*, 2015, with percussionist Aymeric Krol and guitarist Maël Salètes, mixing Tuareg rock and East African rhythms
- *Waa Dardaaran*, 2019

In 2015 she moved back to Hargeisa and founded a cultural centre for music and poetry there (same source). See [Somalis in France](/en/diaspora/france/).

## In short

A Hargeisa singer who nursed the wounded in 1988, built a career in France, and came home to open a music centre.

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