I always find hard news hard to digest. I just had to write a blog post about this. The legend, the emperor, the number one musician in Sudan, Mohamed Wardi, has passed away after chronic kidney problems.
Wardi was born in Sowarda in Northern Sudan in July 1932 and was raised by his uncle as he became an orphan at an early age. Before he established himself as a musician, he was a teacher in a number of Sudanese cities.
He moved to Khartoum in 1957 and began a music career that spanned over 55 years.
In the beginning of his career, Wardi performed in the Nubian language , however, he was advised to perform in the Arabic language to attract the non-Nubian Sudanese audience.
His popularity knew no borders, his songs and concerts were best-sellers in Egypt , Ethiopia and many African countries.
Wardi cared for Sudan and was imprisoned and exiled for many years for opposing numerous dictatorships in Sudan.
During the war with South Sudan, he joined the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and performed in SPLM-controlled camps. He will be remembered for patriotic songs such as Ya Baladi ya Haboub, October Al Akhdar among others.
