Guduuda 'Arwo ^[1] or Guduudo Carwo , ^[2] real name Shamis Abokor Ismail , ^[3] was a Somali singer. She was a vocalist for Radio Hargeisa in Hargeisa , the capital of Somaliland . ^[1]

History [ edit ]

The BBC described her family as "conservative". ^[3]

Nicknamed "Guduuda 'Arwo" ("Red 'Arwo"), Shamis Abokor was recruited by Radio Hargeisa in 1953. ^[1] She used a false name so her family would be unaware of her singing. ^[3] She sang her first heello song in August of that year, becoming the first female recording vocalist in the British Somaliland Protectorate and the Trust Territory of Somaliland . According to Johnson (1996), 'Arwo encountered criticism for this, as Dalays had prior to her. ^[2]

In 1963, she formed a quartet with Baxsan , Magool and Maandeeq . ^[4] At the height of her popularity, Guduuda 'Arwo performed love songs to audiences of thousands of fans. ^[5]

Her career ended after she suffered a stroke and became paralysed. Since around 1997, she had been under the care of relatives. Her United Kingdom-based daughter also sent remittances to her through the Dahabshiil money transfer operator. As of September 2013, she was 78 years old. ^[5] She died ^[3] in Hargeisa in 2017 at the age of 85. ^{[ citation needed ]}

See also [ edit ]

• Music of Somalia

Notes [ edit ]

References [ edit ]

• Johnson, John William. Heelloy: Modern Poetry and Songs of the Somali . Indiana University Press , 1996. ISBN   1874209812 , 9781874209812.
• Mukhtar, Mohamed Haji. Historical Dictionary of Somalia . Scarecrow Press , 25 February 2013. ISBN   0810866048 , 9780810866041.