Khadija Qalanjo (Somali: Khadiija Qalanjo, Arabic: خديجة قلنجو) is a popular Somali singer and folklore dancer in the 1970s and 1980s. She was the first Miss Somalia.[1]

Qalanjo was the singer that started the modernization and enhancement of the Somali folk song tradition of balwo, introducing instrumentation where hitherto it had been performed without.

She was born in Borama in north western Somaliland.[2]

Music

Popular songs by Qalanjo include:[3]

  • Caashaqa Sal iyo Baar
  • Ragga iyo Haweenkuba
  • Deesha
  • Sharaf
  • Hooyo
  • Soohor Caashaqa – duet with Hasan Adan Samatar
  • Diriyam – in 2016 a cover was made by the Ethiopian Jano Band.

Notes

  1. ^ Diiriye, p.73
  2. ^ Ahmed, Yasmin (26 August 2017). "Somalia's lost tapes revive musical memories". BBC News.
  3. ^ "Songs by Khadija Qalanjo". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.

References