Ali Feiruz
Encyclopedia
Ali Abdi Feiruz, known as Ali Feiruz, (b.1931-1994) was a prominent Somali
musician.
. He later moved to Hargeisa
, Somalia
in the late 1950s, and then on to Mogadishu
in 1973.
Feiruz's career began with Radio Hargeisa in the late 1950s. He was one of the first popular Somali kaban (oud
) players in the 1950s, and eventually began incorporating modern instruments into his performances in the 1960s, such as the guitar
, violin
and accordion
.
A prominent member of the Walaalaha Hargeisa and Hobolada Waaberi
musical troupes, Feiruz composed, among other tunes, Ilaahayow waa kugu mahad, a tune whose release coincided with the independence of the former British Somaliland
protectorate
. As of 2010, this music still serves as the opening theme for the news segment of both Radio Mogadishu
and Radio Hargeisa.
Feiruz had a significant influence on newer generations of Somali musicians in the 1960s and 1970s. He died in Djibouti in mid-1994.
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
musician.
Biography
Feiruz was born in 1931 in DjiboutiDjibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
. He later moved to Hargeisa
Hargeisa
Hargeisa is a city in the northwestern Woqooyi Galbeed region of Somalia. With a population of approximately 2 million residents, it is the second largest city in the country. Hargeisa is the capital of Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region...
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
in the late 1950s, and then on to Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
in 1973.
Feiruz's career began with Radio Hargeisa in the late 1950s. He was one of the first popular Somali kaban (oud
Oud
The oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
) players in the 1950s, and eventually began incorporating modern instruments into his performances in the 1960s, such as the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
.
A prominent member of the Walaalaha Hargeisa and Hobolada Waaberi
Waaberi
-History:The troupe was established by members of the Radio Artists Association. It was supported by the Somali government as part of the Somali National Theater, and made tours throughout several countries in Africa, including Egypt and Sudan. After a coup in 1969, the ensemble was renamed...
musical troupes, Feiruz composed, among other tunes, Ilaahayow waa kugu mahad, a tune whose release coincided with the independence of the former British Somaliland
British Somaliland
British Somaliland was a British protectorate in the northern part of present-day Somalia. For much of its existence, British Somaliland was bordered by French Somaliland, Ethiopia, and Italian Somaliland. From 1940 to 1941, it was occupied by the Italians and was part of Italian East Africa...
protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
. As of 2010, this music still serves as the opening theme for the news segment of both Radio Mogadishu
Radio Mogadishu
-History:Established during the colonial period in Italian Somaliland, Radio Mogadishu initially broadcasted news items in both Somali and Italian. The station was modernized with Russian assistance following independence in 1960, and began offering home service in Somali, Amharic and Oromo.After...
and Radio Hargeisa.
Feiruz had a significant influence on newer generations of Somali musicians in the 1960s and 1970s. He died in Djibouti in mid-1994.