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Award handover at the Habeenka Hibo Nuura tribute: a line of guests and performers in traditional Somali dress on stage, with Hibo Nuura's face on the purple LED wall behind them.

— Astaan Media

Maamuuska Legends

Honoring the Legends

Honoring the Icons of Somali Music & Cultural Heritage

Document

Full Project Report

Honorees

Four Somali legends

Span

2020 — 2025

01

Executive Summary

Maamuuska Legends is an Astaan Media cultural and music initiative dedicated to honoring, celebrating, and preserving the legacy of legendary Somali artists and cultural figures who have made significant contributions to Somali music and the arts.

The initiative brings together artists, musicians, cultural figures, audiences, and the wider Somali community to recognize individuals whose creative contributions have shaped generations.

Through tribute evenings, recognition ceremonies, performances, storytelling, and documentation, Maamuuska Legends transforms appreciation into a lasting cultural record.

The initiative demonstrates Astaan's role not only in entertainment production, but also in preserving Somali musical heritage and recognizing the people who built it.

Key Figures Honored

  • Hibo Nuura
  • Salaad Maxamed Shardi (Salaad Darbi)
  • Axmed Naaji Sacad
  • Muxiyadiin Sheekh Muumin (Jiim)
A young artist in a gold-embroidered shawl embraces Hibo Nuura, both laughing under magenta and purple stage light.
Guests on the Habeenka Salaad Darbi stage presenting a framed portrait painting of Salaad Darbi under blue ceremonial drape.

Above: Habeenka Hibo Nuura, Mogadishu. Below: Habeenka Salaad Darbi, Astaan Tower.

02

Project Concept

The concept behind Maamuuska Legends is simple:

"To honor the legends while they are remembered, and to ensure their contributions are not forgotten by future generations."

Somali music has a rich history shaped by singers, composers, instrumentalists, poets, and cultural figures. Many of these individuals contributed to the development of Somali music over several decades.

The program combines music, history, storytelling, recognition, and live performance.

A professional platform where achievements can be

CelebratedDocumentedRecognizedPerformedDiscussedPassed on to younger generations
03

Objectives

Preserve Cultural Heritage

Document and celebrate the history of Somali music.

Honor Legends

Recognize artists whose work has had a lasting impact on Somali culture.

Educate Younger Generations

Introduce young audiences to the musicians and artists who shaped Somali music.

Encourage Artists

Demonstrate that artistic contributions can be recognized and remembered.

Create Historical Records

Produce audiovisual documentation that can become part of Somalia's cultural archive.

Bring Communities Together

Create occasions where artists, musicians, families, and audiences can celebrate cultural heritage collectively.

The ensemble of the Habeenka Hibo Nuura tribute on stage, raising framed portrait paintings of the singer before a purple LED backdrop.

25 November 2024 · Mogadishu

04

Maamuuska Hibo Nuura

One of the major Maamuuska Legends events was Habeenka Hibo Nuura, dedicated to the legendary Somali singer Hibo Nuura. The event brought together artists and members of the Mogadishu community to celebrate and honor Hibo Nuura's contribution to Somali music.

The occasion was presented as an evening dedicated to a legendary artist whose music and artistic legacy have had a lasting place in Somali culture.

Significance

The event demonstrated how music can serve as a bridge between:

History → Artists → Community → New Generations

Rather than simply performing Hibo Nuura's songs, the event created a moment of collective recognition for her artistic contribution.

Event

Maamuuska Hibo Nuura

Date

25 November 2024

Location

Mogadishu

Focus

Honoring her musical legacy

05

Maamuuska Salaad Darbi

Habeenka Salaad Maxamed Shardi — Salaad Darbi

Following the Hibo Nuura tribute, Astaan continued the concept of recognizing Somali musical legends through another dedicated evening.

The event was dedicated to Salaad Maxamed Shardi, popularly known as Salaad Darbi, and celebrated his contribution to Somali music.

The event reinforced the central idea of Maamuuska Legends: Somali artists who shaped the country's musical history deserve to have their contributions remembered and celebrated.

The evening brought the artistic community together around the legacy of another important figure in Somali music.

A blue ceremonial drape is placed over the shoulders of an honoree wearing a crown-style koofiyad on the Habeenka Salaad Darbi stage, flanked by elders holding Somali flags.
Close-up of guests holding the framed portrait painting of Salaad Darbi under blue drape.
A young MC speaks into a pink Astaan microphone in front of the purple Habeenka Salaad Darbi backdrop.

Habeenka Salaad Darbi · 11 July 2025 · Astaan Tower, Mogadishu

Hosted by Tiyaatarka Qaranka Soomaaliya & Astaan

Five men across the Habeenka Salaad Darbi stage; at center, the honoree in blue ceremonial drape and crown-style koofiyad holds the framed portrait painting of Salaad Darbi.

From the Evening

"Somali artists who shaped the country's musical history deserve to have their contributions remembered and celebrated."

11 July 2025 · Astaan Headquarters

06

Maamuuska Axmed Naaji

Another important Maamuuska event was dedicated to the legacy of Al-Ustaad Axmed Naaji Sacad.

The event focused on remembering and honoring the historical artistic heritage he left behind.

The commemoration was held at the Astaan headquarters, creating a setting where artists, musicians, and members of the community could recognize his contribution.

The event represented another example of Astaan's effort to turn Somalia's musical history into a documented and celebrated cultural record.

Focus of the Event

  • His artistic legacy
  • His contribution to Somali music
  • Preservation of his work
  • Recognition by fellow artists
  • Passing his artistic heritage to future generations
  • Honoree — Al-Ustaad Axmed Naaji Sacad
  • Date — 11 July 2025
  • Location — Astaan Headquarters
  • Purpose — Recognition of his artistic legacy
A presenter with an Astaan microphone addresses the audience while a live band — congas, guitar, and bass — plays at the Axmed Naaji Sacad commemoration.
A singer in a blue suit and checked scarf performs at center stage with the band at the Axmed Naaji Sacad commemoration, Astaan headquarters.

Xuska Wax Soosaarkii Al-Ustaad Axmed Naaji Sacad (1939 — 2023), Astaan Headquarters.

29 March 2020

07

Honoring Jiim Sheekh Muumin

Elderly Muxiyadiin Sheekh Muumin (Jiim), in glasses and a dark suit, receives a circular gold award plaque engraved with his name from a smiling presenter in a grey suit.

Muxiyadiin Sheekh Muumin (Jiim) receiving the Astaan award.

One of the earlier recognition initiatives associated with Astaan was the tribute to Muxiyadiin Sheekh Muumin (Jiim).

He was widely recognized for his exceptional mastery of the Somali kaban / oud and was also known as a highly accomplished composer.

Astaan recognized his contribution to Somali art by presenting him with an award plaque and organizing a special appreciation program celebrating his role in the development of Somali music.

Recognition

  • Honoree — Muxiyadiin Sheekh Muumin (Jiim)
  • Date — 29 March 2020
  • Recognition — Award plaque
  • Focus — Contribution to Somali music and mastery of the kaban/oud

This recognition is particularly significant because instrumentalists and composers can sometimes receive less public recognition than singers, despite playing a fundamental role in the development of Somali music.

By recognizing Jiim, Astaan highlighted the importance of the musician, instrumentalist, and composer in Somalia's artistic history.

08

Timeline of Maamuuska Legends

29 March 2020

Muxiyadiin Sheekh Muumin (Jiim)

Recognition of his contribution to Somali music; award plaque and appreciation program

19 October 2023

Cultural / musical recognition activity

Celebration and documentation of Somali artistic heritage

25 November 2024

Habeenka Hibo Nuura

Honoring Hibo Nuura and her musical legacy

11 July 2025

Axmed Naaji Sacad

Honoring and commemorating his historical artistic legacy

2025

Habeenka Salaad Maxamed Shardi (Salaad Darbi)

Honoring another major Somali musical legend

Five guests lined up across the tribute stage under purple LED light at Habeenka Salaad Darbi.
09

The Importance of Recognition

Maamuuska Legends addresses an important issue in cultural preservation:

"Who remembers the people who created the music that shaped generations?"

Somali music contains decades of artistic history. Songs, melodies, compositions, performances, and musical traditions have been passed from one generation to another. However, without deliberate documentation and recognition, the stories behind that music can gradually disappear.

Maamuuska Legends helps preserve these stories by bringing the artists themselves and their contributions back into public conversation.

10

Community Participation

The events also demonstrate the strong relationship between Somali music and the community. For the Hibo Nuura tribute, for example, artists and members of the Mogadishu community came together to celebrate her.

Maamuuska Legends therefore creates a space where communities can actively participate in preserving that heritage.

Somali music has been part of

Social lifePoetryNational identityWeddings and celebrationsCultural memoryCommunity gatherings
Performers and audience members singing together in a full house at the Habeenka Salaad Darbi evening.
11

Key Achievements

Multiple Somali Legends Recognized

The initiative has honored or celebrated figures from different areas of Somali music.

Artists & Communities Engaged

The events have brought together musicians, performers, and members of the public.

Musical Heritage Preserved

The productions provide audiovisual documentation of Somali music and its creators.

Instrumentalists Recognized

The recognition of Jiim highlights the importance of musicians and composers in addition to singers.

Legacy Celebrated

Hibo Nuura, Salaad Darbi, and Axmed Naaji Sacad represent different dimensions of Somalia's rich musical heritage.

Intergenerational Connection

The initiative helps younger audiences discover important figures from Somali music history.

A younger artist with her arm around Hibo Nuura, both laughing together in the magenta-purple glow of the tribute stage.

Intergenerational connection: a younger artist with Hibo Nuura at her tribute evening.

An MC on stage holding a pink Astaan microphone, lit against the purple tribute-evening backdrop.
12

Project Impact

Cultural Impact

Maamuuska Legends contributes to the preservation of Somali cultural identity by documenting and celebrating the country's musical heritage.

Social Impact

The events create opportunities for communities to come together around shared cultural experiences.

Artistic Impact

Recognizing established artists encourages appreciation of excellence and dedication within the creative industry.

Educational Impact

Younger audiences gain opportunities to learn about the history of Somali music and the individuals behind it.

Media Impact

The initiative demonstrates how television and digital media can be used as tools for cultural preservation.

"To honor the legends while they are remembered."

Astaan Media

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