HARGEISA, 15 December 2009 (Somalilandpress) – The famous Somali singer and rapper, K’naan arrived Hargeisa yesterday. Sources told Somalilandpress that the singer is coming to Somaliland as part of his documentary about Somali culture and literature.
K’naan is born in Mogadishu then migrated to Canada after the civil war broke out in Somalia where he still lives there. His songs and style attracted the world lately and his song was selected for the FIFA football world cup in 2010.
This is the first time K’naan visits Somaliland where he is expected to stay for few weeks before he goes back to Canada. During his stay, the singer will meet the famous Somali literature folks who are living in Hargeisa. He said he will meet the Hadraawi, Gaariye and others who are considered leaders in terms of Somali literature.
First of all let me say well done K’naan and welcome home. This is your country and we’re very pleased to have you in Somaliland. I wish him the best of everything.
With that being said, I think Knaan will have tough time dealing with the public in Hargeisa. The locals find his music, his representation in western culture and all that he posses, very disgusting and disrespectful to their culture, religion and their "Somali" way of life. They actually think Knaan and his group are everything that is wrong with our youth in Diaspora. Simply dhaqan biis that needs very good dhaqan celis cultural asz whipping. They see everyday guys that look like him, dress like him and talk like him who are on the wrong side of the equation of success on the streets of Hargeisa. They will simply group him in that category just because of his “cultural” art form. I don’t think it’s fair but that will happen for sure.
Do I feel that way personally? NO.
I think he could be a spokes person for all Somalis. More like Wycliffe for Haiti. I think he’s incredible talent and new breath of fresh air.
Do the locals in Somaliland see it differently and disagree with my views regarding Knaan and his newly found culture in Hip Hop out here in the west? 100% YES
Do they have the rights to judge and reject him due to his career path? I don’t know.