Hasan Adan Samatar
Encyclopedia
Hasan Adan Samatar (b. 1953 in Diinsoor, Somalia
) is a prominent Somali
singer, guitarist
and theatrical performer
.
, Somalia
in 1953. He grew up in Baidoa
, where he attended primary and elementary schools. He subsequently relocated to Mogadishu
, the nation's capital, and began his secondary education.
Samatar's involvement with music began at a very early age, with him first taking up singing during childhood. He later started to play the guitar
.
After graduating from high school, Samatar planned on attending university in Italy
. However, at the behest of friends, he decided to first take part in the 1971 edition of Hirgilinta Heesaha, a talent competition that was at the time Somalia’s equivalent of American Idol
. Samatar wound up winning the entire contest. He was shortly afterwards inducted into Waaberi
, the premiere Somali musical ensemble, and emerged as a leader in the local music and theater scenes.
and Seynab Haji Ali. While most of Samatar's songs are in Standard Somali
, he also sings in the Af-Maay
dialect.
Samatar credits his exposure to Somali folklore and cultural festivals at a young age with his artistic achievements:
Samatar also encourages Somali parents in the diaspora
to teach their children the rich Somali culture
, particularly songs and poetry, so that the youth will appreciate the beauty of their traditions and draw pride from that.
.
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...
) is a prominent Somali
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...
singer, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and theatrical performer
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Biography
Samatar was born to an artistic family in DinsoorDinsoor
-Overveiw:It was founded in 1805, when a group of nomads constructed a water well near a mountain area called Bug. It is the fourth largest city in the Bay province.Dinsoor has one local airport called Mecca Boqol...
, 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 1953. He grew up in Baidoa
Baidoa
Baidoa is a city in south-central Somalia, situated by road northwest of the capital Mogadishu. It is the capital of the Bay region, which is traditionally inhabited by the Digil and Mirifle clans....
, where he attended primary and elementary schools. He subsequently relocated 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....
, the nation's capital, and began his secondary education.
Samatar's involvement with music began at a very early age, with him first taking up singing during childhood. He later started to play 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...
.
After graduating from high school, Samatar planned on attending university in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. However, at the behest of friends, he decided to first take part in the 1971 edition of Hirgilinta Heesaha, a talent competition that was at the time Somalia’s equivalent of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. Samatar wound up winning the entire contest. He was shortly afterwards inducted into 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...
, the premiere Somali musical ensemble, and emerged as a leader in the local music and theater scenes.
Theater
Samatar has acted in more than two dozen plays, ranging from melodramatic and socially conscious pieces to romantic productions. He is noted for both his performing ability and charismatic style.Music
Among the most influential and enduring of Somali singers, Samatar has a musical corpus of over 200 songs, and has performed several duets with other popular Somali artists, including Saado Cali, Khadija QalanjoKhadija Qalanjo
Khadija Qalanjo was a popular Somali singer and folklore dancer in the 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:Qalanjo was born in Somalia. She is of the Samaroon sub-division of the Mandaluug sub-clan of the Dir Somali clan....
and Seynab Haji Ali. While most of Samatar's songs are in Standard Somali
Somali language
The Somali language is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Its nearest relatives are Afar and Oromo. Somali is the best documented of the Cushitic languages, with academic studies beginning before 1900....
, he also sings in the Af-Maay
Af-Maay
Maay Maay is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic family and is written using the Latin alphabet. It is spoken mostly in Somalia and adjacent parts of Ethiopia and Kenya. Its speakers are known as Sab Somalis...
dialect.
Samatar credits his exposure to Somali folklore and cultural festivals at a young age with his artistic achievements:
Samatar also encourages Somali parents in the diaspora
Somali diaspora
The Somali diaspora refers to expatriate Somalis who reside in areas of the world that have traditionally not been inhabited by their ethnic group...
to teach their children the rich Somali culture
Culture of Somalia
The culture of Somalia is an amalgamation of traditions indigenously developed or accumulated over a timeline spanning several millennia of Somali civilization's interaction with neighbouring and far away civilizations such as Ethiopia, Yemen, India and Persia....
, particularly songs and poetry, so that the youth will appreciate the beauty of their traditions and draw pride from that.
Humanitarian work
In addition to his prolific performing and recording career, Samatar is also actively involved in a number of charitable endeavors. He often participates in concerts to raise funds for different causes, such as building schools and clinics in Somalia and providing support to those displaced by violence.Awards
On August 14, 2010, Samatar received a lifetime achievement award from leaders of the Somali community in Minneapolis. A spokesman for Eagle Media, which had put together the tribute dinner and gala party, indicated that the organization had sought to present Samatar the prize years earlier but was waiting for the artist to return to MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
Discography
Popular songs by Samatar include:- Soohor Caashaqa – duet with Khadija QalanjoKhadija QalanjoKhadija Qalanjo was a popular Somali singer and folklore dancer in the 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:Qalanjo was born in Somalia. She is of the Samaroon sub-division of the Mandaluug sub-clan of the Dir Somali clan....
- Kala hadhi maynee (Hilbaheenna isku yaalle) or "We Will Not Be Apart" – duet with Seynab Haji Ali "Baxsan". Lyrics by Yusuf Aadan and melody by Ismail Gare. From the play: Garcadaawo iyo caashaq.