July 30, 2025

Somali songstress Khadija Abdullahi Daleys dies in Toronto

Farah Yussuf

Acclaimed Somali singer Khadija Abdullahi Daleys has died in Toronto, Canada. She was 81.

Somali information minister Abdirahman Osman announced Daleys’ passing on his Twitter account.

She rose to fame in 1952 when she became the first Somali artist to sing on the state-run Radio Mogadishu, Mr Osman said.

The singer was once a member of the Waaberi Band, a well-known Somali music and dance troupe.

The minister did not disclose the cause of death of the singer’s death.

Privately-owned Radio Goobjoog said Daleys “was ill for some time and died in a hospital in Toronto”.

Source: BBC January 2018