Hudeidi

Ahmed Ismail Hussein Hudeidi (Somali: Axmed Ismaaciil Xuseen Xudeydi), known as Hudeidi or Xudeydi, was a Somali musician who played the oud and composed songs.

Hudeidi
Birth nameAhmed Ismail Hussein Hudeidi
Also known asBoqorkii Cuudka (King of oud)[1]
Born(1928-04-15)15 April 1928
Berbera, British Somaliland (now Somaliland)
Died8 April 2020(2020-04-08) (aged 91)[1]
London, United Kingdom
GenresSomali
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, composer, instrumentalist
Instrument(s)Oud

Early life and career

Hudeidi was born in Berbera in 1928 and raised in Yemen, where his father was a police sergeant.[2] Hudeidi was always fascinated by music, and fell in love with the oud when his father took him to a party in Aden where an Arab man was playing the instrument. He learned how to play it from Abdullahi Qarshe, who advised Hudeydi's father to buy his son an oud and a pick as well as books and writing instruments for school.[3][4]

During the 1950s and 1960s, Hudeidi lived in Yemen, Somalia, and Djibouti, playing the oud and getting into trouble for singing politically rebellious songs as well as from rival musicians.[4] In 1973 he moved to the United Kingdom, where he performed at private functions such as family weddings and taught others how to play the oud.

He retired after a final concert at the Kayd Somali Arts and Culture centre in February 2020.[5]

Death

Hudeidi died on 8 April 2020 in London from COVID-19,[4][5][6] eight days before his 92nd birthday.

See also

References
  1. "Xudeydii oo London ku Geeriyooday". VOA (in Somali). Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  2. Dahir, Abdi Latif (8 April 2020). "Ahmed Ismail Hussein, Venerable Somali Musician, Dies at 91". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  3. "Radio 3 World on Your Street - Musicians' Stories". BBC. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  4. Mary Harper (19 April 2020). "Hudeidi: The Somali 'king of oud' who was felled by coronavirus". BBC News.
  5. "'King of Oud' Somali musician Hudeydi dies from coronavirus". RFI. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  6. "Somalia: Legendary musician succumbs to COVID-19 in London". Garowe Online. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
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