Saado Ali Warsame, 58: Daring voice of hope for Somalia

The Minnesota resident’s songs of peace made her wildly popular in her native Somalia, but a threat to those fomenting chaos there. Elected to Somalia’s parliament, she became a target.
Article by: JAMES WALSH , Star Tribune
Tears glisten in Horiyo Kasim’s eyes as she watches one of her mother’s music videos.

In “Aan Wada Tashano,” Saado Ali Warsame’s voice is resonant, rhythmic and strong as she challenges the country’s leaders to turn against greed and violence.

For decades, she composed and sang such songs. When civil war dispersed Somalis across the globe, her music bound them together, earning praise and admiration.

“She had love songs, happy songs,” said her 33-year-old daughter.

“But I was always a fan of her courage.”

Kasim and her brother, Harbi Hussein, tried to talk their mother out of returning to Somalia to serve in parliament. It was too dangerous. She was an American citizen. She could continue to make a difference with her travels to Sweden, Qatar and South Africa.

But her mother, who once had a $2 million bounty on her head and who was jailed while seven months pregnant with Kasim, had other ideas.

“She said, ‘You’re going to die one day, it’s going to happen the way it was destined to. Maybe I can be heard now.’ ”

Singing in the video, pain and anger fill Warsame’s face as scenes of war and destruction flash behind her. She skewers leaders unwilling to make peace — even those of her own clan.

In July, extremists opened fire on her car in Mogadishu, killing Warsame and her driver.

Kasim chooses not to watch the video of her mother’s body, shrouded in white. She prefers instead to concentrate on her message.

“She sang that if we don’t straighten up, it will be as if we were never here,” Kasim said.

“She was a patriot, the biggest one I have ever known.”