Somali music has suddenly gone mainstream — but we’ve been part of British culture for years

Nimco Ali
Daniel Hambury/@stellapicsltd
Nimco Ali16 November 2021

On Sunday night, my social media was full of videos from the hottest music event in London — well, the hottest ticket in my community — as thousands of young Somalis packed out Sultan Serar Guhad’s sold-out show. He’s an international superstar who I have to say has got me nostalgic for the days my mum and aunties used to dance in the kitchen to Somali music. It is a genre that has hit headlines in the last few weeks with the TikTok sensation Nimco Happy and her song I Love You More Than My Life.

Somali music is now being searched for more than ever on music apps and I’m getting lyric translation requests from friends.

As incredible as it is to see my culture becoming mainstream, I want to make sure it is well known that people from the ‘nation of poets’ have been around in this country for quite some time — since the 19th century, in fact.

The first Somali immigrants were seamen and merchants who settled in port cities like London, Liverpool and Cardiff. My grandfather and many of his generation were also educated in the UK and then found refuge here for a few years after the civil war. Now we are a part of this country’s fabric — from the nurses who first served in the newly-formed NHS, to Sir Mo Farah who we all cheered on together as he won gold at London 2012. Long may it continue.

In other news...

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Glasgow has given the framework but the meat on the bones — such as ensuring developing countries have the funds to decarbonise their economies — is where the real work begins.

The next COP will be held in Africa and the UK will be hosting its second Africa Investment Conference in the New Year. I have great hope that the continent will be given the help it needs.

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