Somaliland: Renowned Somali Singer, Guduudo Carwo Dies at 82

[Deeq A.]

Shamis Abokor, nick named “Guduudo Carwo” was born in 1935 and was the first to sing live at Hargeisa Radio in 1953. She sang her first “Heello” song in August of that year, becoming the first female recording vocalist in Somaliland. According to Johnson (1996), ‘Arwo encountered criticism for this. At the height of her popularity, Guduuda ‘Arwo performed love songs to audiences of thousands of fans in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

70 years ago, Gurroon Jire, one of the first Somali singers in Somaliland sang for her “Guduudo Carwooy, gugii la arkaba, allow yaa gashaanti kaa dhiga”  which roughly translates to “Ohh Guduudo Arwo, may you be younger every year”, although both sang for each other and people always talk about how the two love each other but nothing was going on between them. When people realized this, it has been circulated a widely known phrase in Somali which says “Gurroon Jire iyo Guduudo Carwo maxay isu guursan waayeen?”which means “Why Gurroon Jire and Guduudo Carwo are not getting married?”.

Guduudo Arwo maintained her status as one of the best singers and remained to be icon in the Somali art. She died in Hargeisa today leaving behind a huge legacy in the Somali art and literature.

 

Here is one of her first and famous classic songs with Gurroon Jire at Radio Hargeisa