Mohammed Wardi
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Mohammed Wardi | |
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African, Nubian and Sudanese legend Mohammed Wardi
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Background information | |
Birth name | Mohammed Osman Hassan Salih Wardi |
Born | July 19, 1932 |
Origin | Wadi Halfa, Sudan |
Genre(s) | Music of Sudan, Nobiin, Arabic Music |
Occupation(s) | High-school Teacher, Singer-songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Singing, Oud, Tanbur, multiple instruments |
Years active | 1957 - present |
Mohammed Osman Hassan Salih Wardi (Arabic: محمد عثمان حسن وردي ) (born 1932 - ) is a Nubian Sudanese singer and songwriter.
[edit] Early life
Wardi was born in the small village of Swarda close to Wadi Halfa on July 19, 1932,to Osman Hassan Wardi and Batool Badri. His father passed away when he was an infant, followed by his mother at the age of nine. Brought up in a diverse and culturally enriched background, he developed an interest in poetry, literature, music and singing.
Wardi traveled to Shendi to continue his education, and returned to Wadi Halfa as a secondary school teacher. To view Mohammed Wardi "live concert footage" go to http://www.staytunedtv.com/subpagetemplate.php?art_id=12
[edit] Music career
In 1953, Wardi made his first trip to the capital Khartoum, as a teacher representative from his area in a convention held at the capital. He transferred to Khartoum and began his musical career as a performer. Wardi's dream evolved to singing which was a hobby that he developed at early childhood. In 1957, he was chosen by Omdurman Radio to record and sing on national broadcast, an arena which was filled at that time with legendary singers such as Abdelaziz Mohamed Dauod, Hassan Atia, Ahmed Almustafa, Osman Hussaein and Ibrahim Awad. After a successful debut year with 17 recorded songs, Omdurman Radio's president held a committee that included the top singers and songwriters including AlKashif, Osman Hussaein and Ahmed Almustafa to promote Wardi from the fourth level to first level as a professional singer.
Wardi pursued a great career, performing with different instruments including the Nubian Tanbur and singing in Arabic and Nubian languages. Many consider him as "Africa's top singer", with fans mainly in the horn of Africa. His songs touched numerous topics including romance, passion, Nubian folklore and heritage, revolution and patriotism. Other songs were politically spiced up that ensured him trips to jail cells more than once. In 1989, he traveled to voluntary exile and returned after spending 13 years outside Sudan. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in literature from the University of Khartoum for his continuous exposure and research of Nubian language.
Singing and performing for over six decades with over 300 songs, Wardi stands as a walking Sudanese legend and musical encyclopedia.
[edit] Poets/Songwriters whom Wardi collaborated with
- Alsadiq Abdelkafi
- Aljayli Abdelmoneim
- Omer Altayib Ad-dosh - "Banadeha"
- Mubarak Albashir
- Mohamed Muftah Alfaytori
- Ishaq Alhalanqi - "A3z Alnas"
- Ahmed Altahir
- Ibrahim Alrasheed - "Saleem Alzog"
- Abdelrahman Alrayah
- Alsir Dolaib
- Abu Amna Hamid
- Ismail Hassan - "Alhaneen ya Foadi", "Nor Al3en", "Habenak mn Qlobna", "Almostaheel",
- Salah Ahmed Ibrahim - "Altayir Almohajir"
- Mohammed Almakki Ibrahim
- Kajaray
- Kamal Mahessi - "Jamal Aldoniya"
- Mohammed Abu Qatati - "Almursal"
- Altijani Saeed
- Mahjoub Sharif - "Ya Sha3ban Lahbt thwrtak", "Masajenak",
Mohamed Abdi Mohamed (opel)