By Maher Ahmed - Reporter
Somalia, April 10, 2026 — Veteran Somali artist Shankaroon Ahmed Yusuf, widely known as Sagal, has died, according to sources close to her family, ending a decades-long career in music and theatre.
She was born near the town of Aware in Ethiopia’s Somali Region and grew up in Hargeisa, where she began her artistic journey in the early 1970s. Her talent was discovered by the late broadcaster Mustafa Haji Noor, who encouraged her to pursue singing after hearing her at Radio Hargeisa.
Sagal made her early appearances in the chorus of the song “Geela” alongside artist Qamar Abdullahi Harawo, accompanied by musician Ismail Yare, before transitioning into musical theatre.
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She became a leading figure in the renowned Waberi troupe, performing in numerous productions written by prominent Somali writers, including Hassan Qowdhan, Mohamed Aden Dacar, and Mohamed Ali Kariye.
Sagal leaves behind a rich artistic legacy that helped shape Somali music and theatre, and her passing is widely seen as a major loss to the country’s cultural community.
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