Salah ibn Al Badiya

Born in Umm Dawm, Khartoum, in 1937[1] and grew up between Umm Dawm and Abu Qaroun. He was known as Al Badiya because of his relationship with the Baadiyah, or the desert.[2][3] ibn Albadya started his education at Al-Khalwa before attending regular school.[4]

Ibn Al Badiya in the 1960s

ibn Al Badiya was introduced to music through Madih nabawi, until he stumbled on Umm Kulthum, who – with her voice – opened his eyes to a different kind of music.[5] ibn Al Badiya started his career when he was still a teenager but did not make a public appearance until 1959 due to his conservative family's reaction.[6] He was encouraged by journalists Mahjoub Osman and Mahjoub Mohamed Salah.[7] However, his father recognised his voice on the radio and forced him (or he chose[8]) to change his name so as not to bring shame to the family name, el-Jayli, a well-known Sofi leader.[9]

Al Madih Ibn Al Badiya in 1968

ibn Al Badiya teamed up with poet Mohamed Yousif Mousa and Abu Amna Hamid to produce some of his best songs.[3] ibn Albdaya's discography includes 117 songs in 5 albums, 4 EPs, movies and plays.[10] His career spanned over six decades, and he introduced other prolific artists such as Mahmoud Abdulaziz.[11] Due to his conservative upbringing, ibn Al Badiya's discography also includes Madih nabawi.[12][13][14]

His audience extended beyond Sudan, reaching Ethiopia, Chad, Nigeria, Qatar, Kuwait, etc.[15][16] According to Riek Machar, SPLA had plans to attack a steamer on the White Nile, but when they found out that Salah was on board, they abandoned the idea out of love for the artist.[8]

Anwar Hashim, Somiah Alalfe, and Salah ibn Albdaya in the movie Eyes Journey[Ar] (1983).

ibn Al Badiya started acting at the theatre with actress Nemat Hmad in Greeba Mosodna and for the crown before starting in Tajouje (a historical romantic tragedy).[17] ibn Al Badiya then moved to the cinema, with his first role being in the movie adaption of Tajouje in 1977,[18] Toar Aljar in Germany, and followed by Eyes Journey (1983).[19][20][21]

ibn Al Badiya died, due to a heart attack, on the 16th of September in 2019, in Amman, Jordan, aged 82.[22][3] He was there to rest and meet his brother[23][24] after his final performance during the "Joy of Sudan" concert on the 18th of August, where he sang Oh! My country (Arabic: يا بلدي) before the signing to the formation of the civil and military council in Sudan.[25][8][26] Thousands, including political leaders, attended his funeral at Umm Dawm.[27][28]

• Music of Sudan
• Mostafa Sid Ahmed
• List of Sudanese singers

• Documentary series of posts in Arabic.

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