Somalia Mourns Legendary Singer Khadija Qalanjo

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism has paid tribute to Khadija Mohamud Yusuf, the celebrated singer known as Khadija Qalanjo, who passed away in Hargeisa.

Minister Daa’ud Aweis Jama, Deputy Minister Abdirahman Yusuf Omar Al-Adaala, and Director-General Abdullahi Hayir Dua’ale extended condolences to her family, children, and the wider artistic community, describing her as a pioneer whose legacy shaped Somali music and culture.

Qalanjo was a leading member of the Waaberi Band, the national ensemble that became a cultural symbol in the Horn of Africa. Her songs were among the first broadcast on Somali National Television when it launched in October 1983, cementing her place in the country’s history.

The Ministry said her death was “a great loss to the Somali nation,” noting her lifelong role in advancing Somali art, literature, and cultural identity.

Qalanjo’s passing has prompted an outpouring of grief across Somalia and among the diaspora, where she is remembered for her unique voice, her promotion of traditional Somali music, and her enduring contribution to the country’s cultural heritage.