Samatar gets Lifetime Achievement Award
Minnesota August 8,2010 (TNN)- –
Hassan Aden Samatar, the legendary Somali singer and one of the most
famous Somali entertainers, received a lifetime achievement award
from the Somali community in Minnesota in a tribute dinner
and gala party held Saturday night in Minneapolis.
Abdirahman Kahin of Eagle Media who organized the successful gala
said to award Samatar was long overdue. “Eagle Media wanted to do it
years ago but we were just waiting Hassan Aden Sa matar to return to
Minnesota,” Said Kahin.
Adar Kahin- no relation to Abdirahman Kahin – a contemporary of
Samatar who acted with him in a play in the eighties, implored from
the audience the reason Somali artists’ work are not recog
nized. “We watch shows on TV here in North America where they award
artists all the time and I tell you these are not as great as my
beloved brother Samatar. Why not we Somalis do it and a
ppreciate our legends?,” wondered Adar.
Hassan Aden Samatar was born into an artistic family in Dinsoor in
Bay Region, Somalia, on 1953. He began his primary and elementary
schooling in the same city and continued his secondary sc
hooling in Mogadishu, the Somali capital. After graduation at young
age, Hassan wanted to go to Italy for college but the moment that
changed his life happened when friends encouraged him to take part
in the “Hirg ilinta Heesaha” program, Somalia’s equivalent of
American Idol. This was in 1971 and he won the conte st and soon was
inducted into the leading Somali troupe of Waaberi and became a
leader in Somali mus ic and theatre.
Hassan Aden sings in Somalia’s two dialects -Maay and Maxaay – with
ease and passion. Hassan is reg arded for his theatrical performance
and powerful melodies and vocals. He acted in more than two do zen
plays from melodramatic and socially conscious plays to romantic
ones. Hassan Aden is equally ce lebrated by the young and the old
because of his charisma and performance .
Hassan credits his artistic achievement being exposed to Somali
folklore and cultural festivals at young age. “As a young boy
growing up in Diinsoor, I used to go to town center to watch dances
and celebra tions by townsfolk. these were mesmerizing and I think
because of seeing all of that I always wanted to sing and perform,”
said Hassan. He encouraged Somali parents in the Diaspora to teach
the rich So mali culture, specially songs and poems to their kids so
that they will appreciate the beauty of their cu lture and be proud
of it.
Hassan is humanitarian who participated in many concerts to raise
funds for different causes su ch as building schools and
clinics in Somalia and raising money for those displaced by
violence.
Samatar now lives in Toronto, Canada and usually comes to Minnesota
to hold concerts and to sing at Somali events.
Source: Mashriq
|