Veteran Somali Musician Ahmed Ismail Hussein Has Died
Considered one of the founding fathers of contemporary Somali music and affectionately known as 'Hudeydi', the musician has passed away from the coronavirus at age 92.
Veteran Somali musician Ahmed Ismail Hussein has passed away at the age of 92 according to reports by the BBC. Considered one of the founding fathers of contemporary Somali music, the musician passed away in London, England, after having tested positive for the coronavirus.
<p>"Hudeydi" as he was affectionately known, and whose music career spanned over several decades, was famous for playing the oud, a stringed instrument similar to the modern lute and that originated from the Middle East. </p><p>Dubbed the "King of Oud", <a href="https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/africa/Somalia-s-King-of-Oud-dies-from-Covid-19-917989" target="_blank">his contribution to music during the anti-colonial and decolonization period of the country</a> made him a significant musician of that time according to <strong>Hanna Ali</strong>, director of the London-based<strong> Kayd Somali</strong> arts organization. Following the death of Hudeydi, Ali goes on to add that, "In short, his music embodied the sound of the long struggle to freedom and independence."</p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p>In 2018, Hussein was <a href="https://goobjoog.com/english/famous-somali-musician-ahmed-ismail-hussein-dies-in-london/" target="_blank">honored for his lifetime contribution to music</a> at the International Somali Awards. </p><p>Currently, the <a href="https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/somalia/" target="_blank">number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Somalia</a> stands at 7 with no reported deaths. On the other hand, the total number of coronavirus cases on the African continent has now surpassed 10 600 with at least 533 reported deaths according to <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-4a11d568-2716-41cf-a15e-7d15079548bc" target="_blank"><strong><em>BBC</em></strong>'s Coronavirus in Africa tracker</a>. </p><p><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/coronavirus-cases-in-africa-death-toll-in-egypt-morocco-senegal-south-africa-nigeria-burkina-faso-drc-new-cases/"></a><strong><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/coronavirus-cases-in-africa-death-toll-in-egypt-morocco-senegal-south-africa-nigeria-burkina-faso-drc-new-cases/" target="_blank"><em>READ: These are the 52 African Countries That Have Reported Cases of Coronavirus</em></a></strong></p><p>The musician becomes the latest African public figure to die from the coronavirus following Cameroonian jazz legend <strong><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/cameroonian-jazz-lengend-manu-dibango-dies-coronavirus-in-africa/" target="_blank">Manu Dibango</a></strong>, former president of the Marseilles football club, <strong><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/former-marseilles-president-pape-diof-dies-coronavirus-in-africa/" target="_blank">Pape Diouf</a></strong>, and several others. <br></p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
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</script></p><p>Tributes have been pouring in for Hussein since the news of his death emerged.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="a0d74" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c8f84e350b36a8b801144caf9b7f28a3"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1247825112298119174" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">To day we lost Al Ustad Ahmed Ismail hussien (Hudeydi) one of the greatest Somali musicians of all time he is singe… https://t.co/gwgzwdoInI</div> — Salim mohamed elmi (@Salim mohamed elmi)<a href="https://twitter.com/SalimElmi/statuses/1247825112298119174">1586339664.0</a></blockquote></div>
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</p><div id="de9fb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="69aa3ea5e32caa422db04893642b15d5"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1247480239573385216" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Two days ago I shared that the situation of our King of Lute, Hudaydi was getting better, I'm saddened to inform yo… https://t.co/AvvQDkOoTl</div> — Ayan Mahamoud MBE (@Ayan Mahamoud MBE)<a href="https://twitter.com/Gobannimo/statuses/1247480239573385216">1586257440.0</a></blockquote></div>
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</p><div id="640f2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4321543a1c41b17bf9f1383547d6c8ab"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1247761098058559488" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Today the Somali community around the world has lost a hero - Ahmed Ismail Hussein Hudeydi - one of the founding fa… https://t.co/iBi3XIvtKg</div> — Hanna Ali (@Hanna Ali)<a href="https://twitter.com/HannaAli/statuses/1247761098058559488">1586324402.0</a></blockquote></div>
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</p><div id="59281" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0955fd17512c27f46c91b0e077e55c84"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1247691232136085508" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Inaaliahi wa ina ilayhin raji’oon. Our hearts are heavy tonight.
Hudeydi was an icon to the Somali community arou… https://t.co/khSgWOAebC</div> — Anti-Tribalism Movt (@Anti-Tribalism Movt)<a href="https://twitter.com/movementatm/statuses/1247691232136085508">1586307745.0</a></blockquote></div>
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</p><div id="51acb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="fa801c74301f6ee4493bba729d72e4da"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1247695679998373891" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Inaalilaahi waa Inaa Ileyhi Raajicuun.
Deeply saddened by the passing of Ahmed I Hussein ‘Hudeydi’ – one of the gr… https://t.co/9Ngb8ZWtG5</div> — Ayan Mahamoud MBE (@Ayan Mahamoud MBE)<a href="https://twitter.com/Gobannimo/statuses/1247695679998373891">1586308805.0</a></blockquote></div>
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</p><div id="00c38" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="42d63df3b36ba984ffb02b26d199b070"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="894242434565144578" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Ahmed Ismail Hussein (Hudeydi)
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#musician
#HIBF2017 #Lastday
#somaliland #Hargeisa #somalia https://t.co/PH6WZsTHUO</div> — Abdullah Omar (@Abdullah Omar)<a href="https://twitter.com/abuudz_omar/statuses/894242434565144578">1502038985.0</a></blockquote></div>
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