Mogadishu (Kaab TV) — Shankaroon Ahmed Yusuf, widely known as Sagal, a prominent and celebrated singer of Somalia’s famed Waaberi band, died on Saturday in the United States, where she had lived for several years. She had reportedly been ill prior to her death.
Shankaroon rose to prominence in the 1970s after joining Somalia’s vibrant, state-sponsored arts movement. She became a central figure in the Somali National Army band, which later merged with Radio Mogadishu’s ensemble to form the legendary Waaberi troupe. Her death has prompted tributes from fellow performers, who described her as a gifted singer whose songs resonated across generations of Somalis.
Khadijo Foodey, a veteran performer who worked closely with her, recalled first hearing Shankaroon’s voice while touring northern Somalia with a theatrical production titled Wad iyo Wacad. At the time, the group was in Boorama when they were given a cassette recording of Shankaroon singing.
“When we listened to her sweet, melodious voice, we agreed she must join the arts,” Foodey said. Poet Mohamed Ali Kaariye, who was accompanying the troupe, urged that she be brought to Mogadishu and recorded professionally.
Shankaroon later moved to the capital and joined the Somali National Army band. When that group merged with the Radio Mogadishu ensemble to form Waaberi, she became part of the nationally celebrated troupe based at the National Theatre.
During her career, she performed at major national events, including the annual October Revolution festival, and sang works by some of Somalia’s most prominent poets, including Hassan Qawdhan, Mohamed Adan Dacar, and Mohamed Ali Kaariye.
Foodey described her as humble and kind. “She was a person of good character who never distanced herself from others,” she said, noting that Shankaroon treated fellow artists with warmth and respect.
Shankaroon and Kaariye later married, though they eventually separated. According to Foodey, many of Kaariye’s songs reflected his love for her. One such song, “Haba Baran Lahayadaa,” was performed by Foodey herself.
Before her death, members of the Waaberi community in the United States gathered at a regular meeting known as “Kulanka Waaberi,” where they prayed for her recovery after learning of her illness. News of her passing followed soon afterward.
Shankaroon Ahmed Yusuf’s voice was part of the golden era of Somali music, when poetry, theatre, and song converged to shape national culture. Her legacy endures through recordings and performances that continue to define Somali artistic identity.