Cabdullaahi Qarshe

Cabdullaahi Qarshe (1924–1997) was the foundation of Somali music. Born in Tanzania and schooled in Aden, Qarshe is often referred to as the father of Somali music. He pioneered the modern Somali sound by blending poetry with melody in ways no one had done before. He famously introduced instruments like the oud (“kaban” in Somali) and brought structure to Somali songs, turning them into a form of art that could carry emotion, education, and patriotism all at once. His creativity and leadership shaped the direction of Somali music for generations to come. Both his legacy and his melodies still live on today, reminding Somalis of the golden age of music that defined their cultural identity

While earlier Somali genres mainly used drums, Qarshe’s innovation with the oud became fundamental to qaraami music. He also helped introduce instruments like the flute and violin, which in Somali are said to have a cod (voice). Coming from a devout Muslim family, Qarshe faced resistance to owning instruments, so he hid his oud in a box and had a friend claim ownership until he safely reached Somaliland in the mid-1940s.