Renowned Somali musician Omar Hassan Rooraaye passed away yesterday afternoon in Hargeisa, the administrative capital of Somaliland, according to government media sources. Rooraaye had resided in Hargeisa for 30 years.
Rooraaye’s illustrious music career began in 1965 as a member of the Xoga Dalka band. He later joined the acclaimed Waaberi band before eventually becoming a member of the prestigious Waabari band in 1974.
Throughout his extensive career, Rooraaye appeared in numerous theatrical plays and produced many iconic songs, including “Wiil Waal,” “Dhirtu kala udgoon badan,” “Maxaa ii dane aan dooniye adi iiga daran,” and “Talo Mudan,” among others. His music has touched the hearts of many and is considered a significant part of Somali cultural heritage.
He collaborated with several legendary female artists, such as Khadra Dahir Cige, Amina Abdullahi, Zainab Haji Ali Bahsan, Halima Khalifa Omar Magool, and Sahra Siad.
Rooraaye’s career spanned over 50 years, with his most successful period being in the 1970s and 1980s.
His passing comes just one month after the death of Amina Abdullahi Hersi, another accomplished female singer with whom Rooraaye had collaborated. Hersi passed away in Borama, in Somaliland’s Awdal region.
Hersi dedicated nearly three decades of her life to singing and performing comedy for the Somali people, participating in countless plays and contributing significantly to Somali culture and entertainment.
