Musicians, actors and artists
Sahra Halgan (Sahra Xalgan)
Sahra Ahmed Mohamoud, known as Sahra Halgan (born 1972 in Hargeisa), is a Somali singer and cultural activist. She worked as a nurse for the Somali National Movement during the 1988 fighting, later lived as a refugee in Lyon, released albums from 2009, and in 2015 returned to Hargeisa, where she founded a centre for music and poetry.
Sahra HalganSahra Ahmed Mohamoud · Sahra Xalgan
- Lived
- 1972 to today
- Known as one of
- Musicians, actors and artists
- Era
- The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 1 sources
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). She began singing at thirteen, though singing in public was frowned upon in her community (same source). Somaliland 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 launched heavy bombing focused on Hargeisa against the Somali National Movement (SNM) (Wikipedia). 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). 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.
In short
A Hargeisa singer who nursed the wounded in 1988, built a career in France, and came home to open a music centre.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Sahra Halgan · en.wikipedia.org
Sahra HalganSahra Ahmed Mohamoud · Sahra Xalgan
- Lived
- 1972 to today
- Known as one of
- Musicians, actors and artists
- Era
- The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 1 sources
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with Sahra Halgan (Sahra Xalgan)? Tell us what you can give.
I want to help with this
Where this matters
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- 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.
- 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.
- K'naan (Keynaan Cabdi Warsame)K'naan, born 1978 in Mogadishu: Somali-Canadian rapper behind 'Wavin' Flag', Juno winner and 2024 Grammy winner.
- Abdi Sinimo (Cabdi Sinimo)Abdi Sinimo (c. 1920–1967): creator of the balwo song, the starting point of modern Somali music, Borama 1944.
- Abdullahi Qarshe (Cabdullaahi Qarshe)Abdullahi Qarshe (1924–1994): oud pioneer of the heello and composer credited with Somalia's anthem Qolobaa Calankeed.
- Maryam Mursal (Maryan Mursal)Maryam Mursal (born 1950): Somali jazz singer from Mogadishu who rebuilt her career in exile with Real World Records.