Khadija Abdullahi Daleys, The Mother of Somali Music, Has Passed Away

The legendary singer was 81.

Khadija Abdullahi Daleys, The Mother of Somali Music, Has Passed Away

Khadija Abdullahi Daleys, a Somali musical trailblazer, passed away over the weekend in Toronto, Canada, reports BBC News. She was 81.

Daleys was a symbol of Somali women's rights. She began her decades-long career in 1952, when she became the first women to make it onto the Radio Mogadishu. She is credited with being the first female Somali recording artist in history. She was also a member of the popular Somali musical troupe, Waaberi.

She was honored by the Somali Museum of Minnesota last month for her indelible contributions to music last month.

Several members of the Somali community, by whom she was widely celebrated, have taken to social media to share tributes to the legendary singer.


Best West African Songs of 2025 So Far — Mid-Year Roundup
Latest

Best West African Songs of 2025 So Far — Mid-Year Roundup

As more West African artists create sounds that inspire internet trends and extend their longevity, others are experimenting with new forms and doubling down on storytelling. Read ahead for the best West African music of the year so far.

​Photo illustration by Kaushik Kalidindi, Okayplayer.
Poetry

The 10 Best African Poems of All Time

These are the lines that have woken imaginations and stirred souls across the continent and beyond.