Somali Musician Stories

Somali Singer Hodan Africa and daughter die in Mayotte boat tragedy
Abdirahman Khalif  |  Nov 05, 2025

Hodan had been living in Nairobi for several years, where she established herself as a Somali musician and performer. Her songs were popular among the...

Creativity is good for the brain and might even slow down its ageing - study
The Conversation  |  Nov 03, 2025

So if you’re wondering whether being creative is “good for you”, the answer seems to be “yes”. Scientifically, measurably, and beautifully so. Your ne...

YouTube to age-restrict violent gaming videos under new policy
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Oct 29, 2025

Kenyan gaming creators, many of whom post unedited gameplay, reviews, and live streams, will now need to make creative adjustments to remain compliant...

Spotify brings video podcasts and music videos to Apple TV in major app overhaul
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Oct 28, 2025

Spotify says the Apple TV app has been “rebuilt from the ground up” with smoother navigation, new visual layouts, and faster browsing.

Why industry-standard labels for AI in music could change how we listen
The Conversation  |  Oct 26, 2025

The company also says it’s focusing work on improved enforcement of impersonation violations and a new spam-filtering system, and that updates are “th...

YouTube unveils sleek new video player for Android and iOS
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Oct 24, 2025

The update is now available for download via the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, marking the start of YouTube’s next chapter in digital design.

Spotify's Android app freezing, crashing for users on Wi-Fi
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Oct 22, 2025

The issue appears to be affecting primarily Android users, particularly those on newer devices such as Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones.

YouTube Music testing new feature that could rival Spotify’s AI DJ
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Oct 09, 2025

Spotify has already made a splash with its AI DJ, which blends real-time voice narration with hyper-personalized tracklists. YouTube’s parent company,...

Court declines to freeze MCSK royalty collections amid Sh56 million row
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Oct 02, 2025

Justice Roseline Aburili said the orders sought were in the nature of a mandatory injunction, which would effectively give the applicants what they ar...

Apple launches global tool to help Spotify users switch to Apple Music easily
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Sep 16, 2025

In the past, users had to rely on paid or limited third-party services to shift their libraries, often facing data losses or incomplete transfers.

Spotify expands free tier with on-demand song playback
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Sep 16, 2025

Until now, mobile users on the free plan were restricted to shuffle mode for most albums and playlists, with limited skips per hour.

Spotify launches lossless audio streaming for premium users
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Sep 12, 2025

The introduction of lossless streaming comes after extensive speculation about whether Spotify would gate the feature behind a premium tier subscripti...

IPhone 17 redefines selfies with AI-enhanced front camera and smart framing
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Sep 11, 2025

The selfie camera now supports 4K video at 60fps, along with cinematic stabilization, making it ideal for vloggers, influencers, and remote workers re...

YouTube rolls out ‘hype’ feature in 39 countries to boost smaller creators, skips Africa
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Aug 27, 2025

The tool, which will be embedded on the side panel that houses the subscription, home, gaming and music menu, will now give viewers the option to “hyp...

YouTube Music marks 10th anniversary with new features, fan badges
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Aug 23, 2025

At the heart of the update is the Taste Match playlist, a smart, collaborative feature that blends the musical preferences of two or more users into a...

Spotify’s new ‘mix’ tool turns playlists into DJ sets
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Aug 20, 2025

The new feature, dubbed “Mix”, is a tool that brings seamless transitions, beat syncing, and manual mixing controls to a user's everyday playlists.

Fela Kuti’s legacy on the menu: Nigeria’s Lagos restaurants celebrate music icon through food
The Conversation  |  Aug 17, 2025

In the early 1970s, Fela fused jazz, highlife, funk, and Yoruba rhythms with politically charged lyrics attacking corruption, oppression, and postcolo...

Schools warned against transporting students outside legal hours during Meru music festivals
Mary Wambui  |  Aug 06, 2025

The restricted hours were introduced following a spate of deadly accidents involving school buses and were intended to enhance road safety for student...

Schools forced to fundraise after Ministry of Education fails to release festival funds
Lucy Mumbi  |  Aug 06, 2025

The national event has been marred by reports of last-minute fundraisers, stranded learners and schools withdrawing from the festival due to a lack of...

TikTok launches new features to spotlight, credit songwriters
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Jul 17, 2025

Among the new features is a “Songwriter” label that appears on user profiles, identifying registered songwriters.

National Police Service declares Kikuyu musician Samuel Muchoki, alias Samidoh, deserter for failing to report for duty
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jun 10, 2025

Though unreachable by police, Samidoh appeared active online, with an Instagram post seen just two hours before 8:36 am on June 10, although he has ye...

Music, power and politics: Gachagua-Kindiki clash exposes battle for Mt Kenya’s cultural influence
Barack Oduor  |  May 26, 2025

During the meeting with Kindiki, musicians praised the success of the Social Health Insurance Fund, but Gachagua condemned their actions as a betrayal...

Music meets politics: Content creators slam Gachagua’s call to boycott musicians who met Kindiki
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 26, 2025

The Digital Content Creators Association of Kenya accused the former Deputy President of attempting to silence artistic voices and weaponise culture f...

Spotify’s new ‘upcoming releases hub’ makes music discovery easier for fans
Margaret Wanjiru  |  May 23, 2025

If a musician has at least 5,000 active listeners in the past 28 days, they can create a Countdown Page for their upcoming album or EP, making them el...

Power struggle rocks MCSK as rival factions clash over CEO Ezekiel Mutua’s ouster
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 09, 2025

Signed by MCSK National Chairman Ephantus Wahome Kamau, the rebuttal stated that Mutua remained the legitimate CEO, and dismissed the earlier claim as...

Sharing a similar music taste can spark romantic attraction - study
Margaret Wanjiru  |  May 07, 2025

Study suggests that when we listen to music, we do not simply hear it; we physically and emotionally become it.

High Court blocks order requiring Nyashinski to disclose Tecno deal in copyright row
Bashir Mbuthia  |  May 05, 2025

In his argument, Nyashinski maintained that making public the details of the deal, which saw him become the brand ambassador of Tecno Camon 20, would...

Spotify debuts AI DJ in Kenya with personalised music, smart commentary for premium users
Margaret Wanjiru  |  May 04, 2025

With Kenya among the over 40 new countries receiving this update, Spotify is signalling its commitment to expanding its footprint in Africa.

Bien and Suldaan wow fans with 'Safari', a powerful blend of Swahili and Somali sounds
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Apr 26, 2025

As the song continues to dominate streaming platforms, “Safari” is more than just a hit; it is a movement, symbolising the power of African unity and...

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