Why aren't there any mainstream famous somalis?

[KnowThySelf23]

there aren't any somali actors, not mainstream ones atleast, also why aren't there any mainstream somali musicians, dancers, etc. i think its either we don't support each other or try hard enough to be succesfull. i see so many talented somalis on the internet but they never get a chance. and how is it that there are so many somalis in the west, but there never represented on movies nd shows (positively at least) if any of you have dreams follow them and don't let anything bring you down, you have my support also i feel as though creativity is being lost in our generation because of parents telling there kids that its harm nd that they should be doctors instead...idk thats just my 2 cents..

[EvolSyawla]

Models
Yasmin Warsame (b. May 17, 1976) – Somali-Canadian model. In 2004, she was named "The Most Alluring Canadian" in a poll by Fashion
Hawa Ahmed (b. 1989) – Somali-Swedish fashion model and winner of Cycle 4 of Sweden's Next Top Model.
Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid (b. July 25, 1955) – international fashion icon, supermodel, actress and entrepreneur, professionally known as Iman.
Waris Dirie (b. 1965) – model, author, actress and human rights activist.
Fatima Siad (b. December 17, 1986) – third place finisher on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 10, professional model
Ubah Hassan – Somali-Canadian model.
Ayan Elmi – Somali-Canadian model.
Amira Ahmed – Somali-Filipino model.
Jawahir Ahmed (b. 1991) – Somali-American model. As Miss Somalia, won 2013 Miss Africa Utah and was 2nd runner up in 2013 Miss United Nations USA pageant.

Academics
Ismail Jim'ale Osoble – lawyer that once served as Minister of Information in the government of Aden Abdullah Osman Daar
Ali A. Abdi – Somali anthropologist and professor of education and international development at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada and is president of the Comparative and International Education Society of Canada. He is also the founding editor of the peer reviewed online publication Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education
Abdi Kusow – Somali associate professor of sociology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Has written extensively on Somali sociology and anthropology.
Shire Jama Ahmed (c. 1935–?) – linguist who devised a unique Latin script for the Somali language
Ahmed Ismail Samatar – prominent Somali professor and dean of the Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester College. He is the editor of Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies.
Abdi Ismail Samatar – prominent Somali scholar and professor at the University of Minnesota
Said Sheikh Samatar (b. 1943) – prominent Somali scholar and writer. Main areas of interest are linguistics and sociology.
Mohamed Haji Mukhtar – Somali professor of African and Middle Eastern History at Savannah State University. Has written extensively on the history of Somalia and the Somali language.
Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi – Somali scholar, linguist and writer. Published on Somali culture, history, language and ethnogenesis.

Activists
Fatima Jibrell (b. December 30, 1947) – prominent Somali-American environmental activist. She is the co-founder and executive director of the Horn of Africa Relief and Development Organization ("Horn Relief"), co-founder of Sun Fire Cooking, and was instrumental in the creation of the Women's Coalition for Peace.
Hawo Tako (d. 1948) – early 20th century Somali female nationalist whose sacrifice became a symbol for pan-Somalism.
Asha Haji Elmi (Caasha Xaaji Cilmi) (b. 1962) – peace activist in Somalia.
Dekha Ibrahim Abdi (1964–14 July 2011) – Somali peace activist in Kenya
Hirsi Magan Isse (Xirsi Magan Ciise) (1935–2008) – activist, scholar and one of the leading figures of the Somali Revolution
Mohamud Siad Togane (b. 1943) – Somali Canadian poet, professor, and political activist.
Hanan Ibrahim – Somali social activist based in the UK. Founder of the Somali Family Support Group (SFSG).
Halima Ahmed – Somali political activist with the Youth Rehabilitation Center in Mogadishu.
Ifrah Ahmed – Somali social activist. Founder of the UYI NGO.
Fartuun Adan – Somali social activist; founder and Executive Director of the Elman Peace Centre.
Elman Ali Ahmed – Somali entrepreneur and social activist
Ilwad Elman – Somali social activist at the Elman Peace Centre
Hawa Aden Mohamed – Somali social activist. Chairperson of the Galkayo Education Centre for Peace and Development.
Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim – Somali social activist
Shadya Yasin – Somali-Canadian social activist and member of the Ontario Premier's Council on Youth Opportunities.
Leyla Hussein – Somali psychotherapist and social activist. Chief Executive of Hawa's Haven & co-founder of Daughters of Eve.
Abdirizak Bihi – Somali social activist. Director of the Somali Education and Social Advocacy Center.
Nimco Ahmed – Somali-American political activist. State Director for the DFL.
Hibaaq Osman – Somali political strategist. Chairperson of the ThinkTank for Arab Women, the Dignity Fund, and El-Karama.
Hodan Ahmed – Somali political activist and Senior Program Officer at the National Democratic Institute.
Musse Olol – Somali-American social activist and Chairman of the Somali American Council of Oregon (SACOO).

Artists
Magool (May 2, 1948–March 19, 2004) (Halima Khaliif Omar) – prominent Somali singer, considered in Somalia as one of the greatest entertainers of all time.
Khadija Qalanjo – popular Somali singer in the 1970s and 1980s.
Hasan Adan Samatar (b. 1953) – popular male artist during the 1970s and 80s
K'naan (b. February 1, 1978) – award-winning Somali-Canadian hip hop artist.
Aar Maanta – popular Somali singer, composer, songwriter and music producer.
Siham and Iman Hashi – Somali-Canadian pop duo.
Ali Feiruz (1931–1994) – Somali musician from Djibouti; part of the Radio Hargeisa generation of Somali artists.
Maryam Mursal (b. January 1, 1950) – famous musician from Somalia; composer and vocalist whose work has been produced by the record label Real World.
Mohamed Mooge Liibaan (?–June 1984) – Somali artist from the Radio Hargeisa generation.
Abdi Sinimo (b. 1920s) – prominent Somali artist and inventor of the Balwo musical style.
Waaberi – Somalia's foremost musical group that toured throughout several countries in Africa and Asia, including Egypt, Sudan and China.
Abdullahi Qarshe (1924–1994) – Somali musician, poet and playwright known for his innovative styles of music which included a wide variety of musical instruments such as the guitar, piano, and oud.
Jonis Bashir – Somali-Italian actor and singer
Elisa Kadigia Bove - Somali-Italian actress and activist
Saba Anglana – Somali-Italian actress and international singer
Abdi Bashir Indhobuur – poet and songwriter
Marian Joan Elliott Said (Poly Styrene) (July 3, 1957–April 25, 2011) – pioneering Somali-British punk rock singer with X-Ray Spex
Mocky (Dominic Salole) (b. October 7, 1974) – Somali-Canadian pop music performer
Hassan Sheikh Mumin (1930/31–January 16, 2008) – Somali poet, reciter and playwright
Waayaha Cusub – Somali music collective led by Falis Abdi
Sherissa – Somali singer-songwriter
A'maal Nuux – Somali-Canadian singer-songwriter
Sulekha Ali – Somali-Canadian singer-songwriter
Amin Amir – Somali-Canadian cartoonist and painter

Athletes
Mohamed Malimey – UK-based Somali football coach and former player
Fabio Liverani (b. April 29, 1976) – Somali-Italian international footballer
Abdi Bile (b. December 28, 1962) – world champion middle distance runner in the 1500 metres, and three time Olympian
Mustafa Mohamed (b. March 1, 1979) – Somali-Swedish long-distance runner who mainly competes in the 3000 meter steeplechase. Won gold in the 2006 Nordic Cross Country Championships and at the 1st SPAR European Team Championships in Leiria, Portugal in 2009. Beat the 31 year old Swedish record in 2007.
Mo Farah (b. March 23, 1983) – Somali-British gold medalist in international track and field. He currently holds the British indoor record in the 3000 metre and won the 3000 m at the 2009 European Indoor Championships in Turin.
Liban Abdi (b. October 5, 1988) – Somali international footballer. Currently plays for Ferencvárosi TC in the Hungarian First Division, on loan from Sheffield United of England.
Ayub Daud (b. February 24, 1990) – Somali international footballer who plays as a forward/attacking midfielder for A.S. Gubbio 1910 on loan from Juventus.
Zahra Bani (b. December 31, 1979) – Somali-Italian javelin thrower
Abdisalam Ibrahim (b. May 1, 1991) – Somali-Norwegian footballer who plays for Manchester City. He is the Premier League's first Somali player and also the first East African.
Amin Askar (b. October 1, 1985) – Somali-Norwegian professional football player, playing for Fredrikstad FK in the Norwegian Premier League.
Mohammed Ahamed (b. August 5, 1985) – Somali-Norwegian footballer who plays for Tromsdalen UIL in the Adeccoligaen.
Mohamed Jama – Somali kickboxer
Mohamed Deq Abdulle – Somali taekwondo practitioner
Faisal Jeylani Aweys – Somali taekwondo practitioner

Authors
Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame 'Hadrawi' (b. 1943) – songwriter, philosopher, and Somali Poet Laureate; also dubbed the Somali Shakespeare.
Nuruddin Farah (b. November 24, 1945) – Somali writer considered one of the greatest contemporary writers in the world.
Warsan Shire (b. 1988) – Somali poet
Abdillahi Suldaan Mohammed Timacade (1920–February 6, 1973) – prominent Somali poet known for his nationalist poems such as Kana siib Kana Saar.
Maxamed Daahir Afrax - Somali novelist and playwright. Afrax has published several novels and short stories in Somali and Arabic languages, and has also written two plays, the first being Durbaan Been ah ("A Deceptive Dream"), which was staged in Somalia in 1979. His major contribution in the field of theatre criticism is Somali Drama: Historical and Critical Study (1987).
Farah Mohamed Jama Awl (1937–1991) – Somali author. Specialized in historical fiction.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Ayaan Xirsi Cali or Ayaan Hirsi Magan) (b. November 13, 1969) – feminist and political writer
Cristina Ali Farah (b. 1973) – Somali-Italian writer and poet
Afdhere Jama (b. 1980) – Somali-American writer based in San Francisco
Ahmed Farah Ali 'Idaja' (Axmed Faarax Cali 'Idaajaa') (b. 1948) – Somali language writer .
Abdourahman Waberi (b. 1965) – writer and teacher
Musa Haji Ismail Galal (b. 1917) – Somali writer, scholar, historian and linguist. One of the foremost historical authorities on the Somali astrological, astronomical, meteorological and calendrical systems.
Ladan Osman – Somali poet and teacher.
Igiaba Scego – Somali-Italian writer
Yasmine Allas – Somali actress and writer.
Sofia Samatar – Somali-American writer
Abdukadir Osman – Somali writer

Directors
Abdisalam Aato – Somali film director and producer. Leader in Somaliwood cinematic movement.
Abdulkadir Ahmed Said (b. 1953) – prominent Somali film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor.
Mo Ali – Somali-British film director.
Idil Ibrahim – Somali filmmaker. Founder of Zeila Films.
Fathia Absie – Somali film director, broadcaster and writer.
Barni Ahmed Qaasim – Somali multimedia artist and filmmaker.
Said Salah Ahmed – Somali playwright, poet, educator and filmmaker.
Ali Said Hassan – Somali film director and producer. Former Somali Film Agency representative.

Entrepreneurs
Abdirashid Duale – award-winning Somali entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the CEO of the multinational enterprise Dahabshiil.
Omar A. Ali – Somali entrepreneur, accountant, financial consultant, philanthropist, and leading specialist on Islamic finance. Formerly CEO of Dar al-Maal al-Islami (DMI Trust), which under his management increased its assets from $1.6 billion USD to $4.0 billion USD. He is currently the chairman and founder of the multinational real estate corporation Integrated Property Investments Limited and its sister company Quadron investments.
Amina Moghe Hersi (b. 1963) – Award-winning Somali entrepreneur that has launched several multi-million dollar projects in Kampala, Uganda, such as the Oasis Centre luxury mall and the Laburnam Courts. She also runs Kingstone Enterprises Limited, one of the largest distributors of cement and other hardware materials in Kampala.
Aden Mohammed – prominent Somali banker and entrepreneur. He is the managing director of Barclays Bank in East and West Africa. Under his tenure BBK won the Banker Awards 2009.
Yussur A.F. Abrar – banker and entrepreneur. First female Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia.
Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim – twin fashion designers and owners of the Mataano brand.
Liban Abdi Egal – Founder and Chairman of First Somali Bank.
Hodan Nalayeh – Somali media executive and entrepreneur. President of the Cultural Integration Agency and the Vice President of Sales & Programming Development of Cameraworks Productions International.
Abdulkadir Ali – Somali-American entrepreneur. Former President of the Somali American Chamber of Commerce.
Hussein Mohamed – Somali entrepreneur. Vice Chairman of the Eastleigh Business Association.
Hussein Shire – Somali businessman. Founder and former CEO of Gateway Bus Company.
Nuria Sheikh Farah – Somali entrepreneur. Owner of Risala Enterprises Ltd. and Chairperson of Gargaar.
Nasra Agil – Somali-Canadian civil engineer and entrepreneur.
Nathif Jama Adam – Somali banker and politician. Former Senior Vice President and the Head of Sharjah Islamic Bank's Investments & International Banking Division, and Governor of Garissa County.
Faisal Hawar – Somali engineer and entrepreneur. CEO/President and co-founder of the International Somalia Development Foundation as well as the Maakhir Resource Company.

Journalists
Hassan Abdillahi – Somali journalist and social activist. Founder and Chairman of Ogaal Radio.
Mona Kosar Abdi – Somali-American multimedia journalist
Mohamed Abshir Waldo – political activist and journalist
Rageh Omaar (b. July 19, 1967) – Somali-British author and television news presenter. Formerly a BBC news correspondent in 2009, he moved to a new post at Al Jazeera English, where he currently presents the nightly weekday documentary series Witness.
Abdirahman Yabarow – Somali journalist. Editor-in-Chief of the VOA's Somali service.
Maya Jama – Somali broadcast journalist.
Mohamoud Sheikh Dalmar – Somali journalist and Islamic scholar.

Judges
Abdulqawi Yusuf (b. September 12, 1948) – prominent Somali international lawyer and judge with the International Court of Justice.
Mohamed Abdi Aware (?–November 12, 2009) – was a high-profile Somali judge in the northern semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia and a member of its Supreme Judicial Council. He was assassinated on 12 November 2009 outside a mosque in Bosaso, capital of Puntland.
Military leaders[edit]
Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (c. 1507–February 21, 1543) – 16th century Imam and military commander that led the Conquest of Abyssinia.
Mohammed Abdullah Hassan (April 7, 1856–December 21, 1920) – Somali nationalist and religious leader that established the Dervish state during the Scramble for Africa.
Hasna Doreh – early 20th century Somali female commander of the Dervish State that frequently joined battles against the imperial powers during the Scramble for Africa.
Muhammad Ali Samatar – former Minister of Defense, first Vice President, and Grand Commander of the Somali National Army (1969-1987)
Daud Abdulle Hirsi (1960–1965) – prominent Somali general considered the father of the Somalian Military.
Salaad Gabeyre Kediye (d. 1972) – major general in the Somali military and a revolutionary.
Mahamoud Mohamed – former Chief of General Staff of the Kenya Defence Forces
Akil Dhahar – leader of the Sanaag region and some portions of the Bari region
Muktar Hussein Afrah – officer in the army of the Transitional Federal Government
Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki (b. 1944) – Islamist leader in Somalia and military leader in the Islamic Courts Union.
Abdulahi Sheik Ismael Fara-Tag – commander in the army of the Transitional Federal Government
Mohammed Hussein Ali (b. 1956) – major general in the Kenyan Army and former Commissioner of the Kenya Police
Ahmed Mohamed Islam – chairman and military commander of Raskamboni movement.
Abdikarim Yusuf Adam – army officer and Chief of TFG Army.
Osman Omar Wehliye – commander of the Somali Police Force from March 2011
Omar Muhamoud Finnish (Cumar Maxamuud Finish) – Mogadishu-based faction leader
Osman Ali Atto (Cismaan Xasan Cali) (b. 1940) – faction leader affiliated with the Somali National Alliance
Botan Ise Alin (Bootaan Ciise Caalin) – former faction leader and former member of the Transitional Federal Government
Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade (Maxamed Ibraahim Xaabsade) – rebel soldier
Mohamed Afrah Qanyare (Maxamed Qanyare Afrax) (b. February 27, 1941) – former faction leader
Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdiid (Cabdi Xasan Cawaale Qeybdiid) (b. 1948) – militia leader affiliated with the Somali National Alliance
Abdullahi Ahmed Irro – General in the Somali National Army. Co-founder of the National Academy for Strategy.

Scientists
Hassan al-Jabarti (d. 1774) – Somali mathematician, theologian, astronomer and philosopher, considered one of the great scholars of the 18th century.
Warsame Ali (b. 1955) – Somali scientist and assistant professor at Prairie View A&M University, specialized in aerospace technology. He has previously worked for NASA.
Ali Said Faqi – Somali scientist and the leading researcher on the design and interpretation of toxicology studies at the MPI research center in Mattawan, Michigan.
Jama Musse Jama (b. 1967) – prominent Somali ethnomathematician and author. He is notable for his research on traditional Somali boardgames such as Shax and the history of mathematics in the Horn of Africa.
Abdusalam Abubakar (b. 1989/90) – one of the youngest winners of the BT Young Scientist of the Year Award who later went on to win the European Union Contest for Young Scientists for his project, which was entitled An Extension of Wiener's Attack on RSA.
Amina Said Ali – author, poet, and medical scientist based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Ahmed Mumin Warfa – scientist, specialised in botany and jointly discovered the Cyclamen somalense, the first genus from tropical Africa with his colleague Mats Thulin. Dr. Warfa is the "world's pre-eminent authority on frankincense", and a professor at Salt Lake Community College.
Osman Aden Abdulle – prominent Somali geneticist that has studied the Somali blood type and it's ethnogenesis. In 1987 he jointly discovered with his colleagues a new Rh gene complex producing the rare Cx (Rh9) antigen in the Somali population.

Miscellaneous
Hussain Bisad – Tallest Somali man alive with the largest hand span in the world

Please also remember that there are countless Somalis who are silently working day in and day out for the betterment of our people.

May Allah bless them all.

[KnowThySelf23]

Models
Yasmin Warsame (b. May 17, 1976) – Somali-Canadian model. In 2004, she was named "The Most Alluring Canadian" in a poll by Fashion
Hawa Ahmed (b. 1989) – Somali-Swedish fashion model and winner of Cycle 4 of Sweden's Next Top Model.
Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid (b. July 25, 1955) – international fashion icon, supermodel, actress and entrepreneur, professionally known as Iman.
Waris Dirie (b. 1965) – model, author, actress and human rights activist.
Fatima Siad (b. December 17, 1986) – third place finisher on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 10, professional model
Ubah Hassan – Somali-Canadian model.
Ayan Elmi – Somali-Canadian model.
Amira Ahmed – Somali-Filipino model.
Jawahir Ahmed (b. 1991) – Somali-American model. As Miss Somalia, won 2013 Miss Africa Utah and was 2nd runner up in 2013 Miss United Nations USA pageant.

Academics
Ismail Jim'ale Osoble – lawyer that once served as Minister of Information in the government of Aden Abdullah Osman Daar
Ali A. Abdi – Somali anthropologist and professor of education and international development at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada and is president of the Comparative and International Education Society of Canada. He is also the founding editor of the peer reviewed online publication Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education
Abdi Kusow – Somali associate professor of sociology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Has written extensively on Somali sociology and anthropology.
Shire Jama Ahmed (c. 1935–?) – linguist who devised a unique Latin script for the Somali language
Ahmed Ismail Samatar – prominent Somali professor and dean of the Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester College. He is the editor of Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies.
Abdi Ismail Samatar – prominent Somali scholar and professor at the University of Minnesota
Said Sheikh Samatar (b. 1943) – prominent Somali scholar and writer. Main areas of interest are linguistics and sociology.
Mohamed Haji Mukhtar – Somali professor of African and Middle Eastern History at Savannah State University. Has written extensively on the history of Somalia and the Somali language.
Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi – Somali scholar, linguist and writer. Published on Somali culture, history, language and ethnogenesis.

Activists
Fatima Jibrell (b. December 30, 1947) – prominent Somali-American environmental activist. She is the co-founder and executive director of the Horn of Africa Relief and Development Organization ("Horn Relief"), co-founder of Sun Fire Cooking, and was instrumental in the creation of the Women's Coalition for Peace.
Hawo Tako (d. 1948) – early 20th century Somali female nationalist whose sacrifice became a symbol for pan-Somalism.
Asha Haji Elmi (Caasha Xaaji Cilmi) (b. 1962) – peace activist in Somalia.
Dekha Ibrahim Abdi (1964–14 July 2011) – Somali peace activist in Kenya
Hirsi Magan Isse (Xirsi Magan Ciise) (1935–2008) – activist, scholar and one of the leading figures of the Somali Revolution
Mohamud Siad Togane (b. 1943) – Somali Canadian poet, professor, and political activist.
Hanan Ibrahim – Somali social activist based in the UK. Founder of the Somali Family Support Group (SFSG).
Halima Ahmed – Somali political activist with the Youth Rehabilitation Center in Mogadishu.
Ifrah Ahmed – Somali social activist. Founder of the UYI NGO.
Fartuun Adan – Somali social activist; founder and Executive Director of the Elman Peace Centre.
Elman Ali Ahmed – Somali entrepreneur and social activist
Ilwad Elman – Somali social activist at the Elman Peace Centre
Hawa Aden Mohamed – Somali social activist. Chairperson of the Galkayo Education Centre for Peace and Development.
Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim – Somali social activist
Shadya Yasin – Somali-Canadian social activist and member of the Ontario Premier's Council on Youth Opportunities.
Leyla Hussein – Somali psychotherapist and social activist. Chief Executive of Hawa's Haven & co-founder of Daughters of Eve.
Abdirizak Bihi – Somali social activist. Director of the Somali Education and Social Advocacy Center.
Nimco Ahmed – Somali-American political activist. State Director for the DFL.
Hibaaq Osman – Somali political strategist. Chairperson of the ThinkTank for Arab Women, the Dignity Fund, and El-Karama.
Hodan Ahmed – Somali political activist and Senior Program Officer at the National Democratic Institute.
Musse Olol – Somali-American social activist and Chairman of the Somali American Council of Oregon (SACOO).

Artists
Magool (May 2, 1948–March 19, 2004) (Halima Khaliif Omar) – prominent Somali singer, considered in Somalia as one of the greatest entertainers of all time.
Khadija Qalanjo – popular Somali singer in the 1970s and 1980s.
Hasan Adan Samatar (b. 1953) – popular male artist during the 1970s and 80s
K'naan (b. February 1, 1978) – award-winning Somali-Canadian hip hop artist.
Aar Maanta – popular Somali singer, composer, songwriter and music producer.
Siham and Iman Hashi – Somali-Canadian pop duo.
Ali Feiruz (1931–1994) – Somali musician from Djibouti; part of the Radio Hargeisa generation of Somali artists.
Maryam Mursal (b. January 1, 1950) – famous musician from Somalia; composer and vocalist whose work has been produced by the record label Real World.
Mohamed Mooge Liibaan (?–June 1984) – Somali artist from the Radio Hargeisa generation.
Abdi Sinimo (b. 1920s) – prominent Somali artist and inventor of the Balwo musical style.
Waaberi – Somalia's foremost musical group that toured throughout several countries in Africa and Asia, including Egypt, Sudan and China.
Abdullahi Qarshe (1924–1994) – Somali musician, poet and playwright known for his innovative styles of music which included a wide variety of musical instruments such as the guitar, piano, and oud.
Jonis Bashir – Somali-Italian actor and singer
Elisa Kadigia Bove - Somali-Italian actress and activist
Saba Anglana – Somali-Italian actress and international singer
Abdi Bashir Indhobuur – poet and songwriter
Marian Joan Elliott Said (Poly Styrene) (July 3, 1957–April 25, 2011) – pioneering Somali-British punk rock singer with X-Ray Spex
Mocky (Dominic Salole) (b. October 7, 1974) – Somali-Canadian pop music performer
Hassan Sheikh Mumin (1930/31–January 16, 2008) – Somali poet, reciter and playwright
Waayaha Cusub – Somali music collective led by Falis Abdi
Sherissa – Somali singer-songwriter
A'maal Nuux – Somali-Canadian singer-songwriter
Sulekha Ali – Somali-Canadian singer-songwriter
Amin Amir – Somali-Canadian cartoonist and painter

Athletes
Mohamed Malimey – UK-based Somali football coach and former player
Fabio Liverani (b. April 29, 1976) – Somali-Italian international footballer
Abdi Bile (b. December 28, 1962) – world champion middle distance runner in the 1500 metres, and three time Olympian
Mustafa Mohamed (b. March 1, 1979) – Somali-Swedish long-distance runner who mainly competes in the 3000 meter steeplechase. Won gold in the 2006 Nordic Cross Country Championships and at the 1st SPAR European Team Championships in Leiria, Portugal in 2009. Beat the 31 year old Swedish record in 2007.
Mo Farah (b. March 23, 1983) – Somali-British gold medalist in international track and field. He currently holds the British indoor record in the 3000 metre and won the 3000 m at the 2009 European Indoor Championships in Turin.
Liban Abdi (b. October 5, 1988) – Somali international footballer. Currently plays for Ferencvárosi TC in the Hungarian First Division, on loan from Sheffield United of England.
Ayub Daud (b. February 24, 1990) – Somali international footballer who plays as a forward/attacking midfielder for A.S. Gubbio 1910 on loan from Juventus.
Zahra Bani (b. December 31, 1979) – Somali-Italian javelin thrower
Abdisalam Ibrahim (b. May 1, 1991) – Somali-Norwegian footballer who plays for Manchester City. He is the Premier League's first Somali player and also the first East African.
Amin Askar (b. October 1, 1985) – Somali-Norwegian professional football player, playing for Fredrikstad FK in the Norwegian Premier League.
Mohammed Ahamed (b. August 5, 1985) – Somali-Norwegian footballer who plays for Tromsdalen UIL in the Adeccoligaen.
Mohamed Jama – Somali kickboxer
Mohamed Deq Abdulle – Somali taekwondo practitioner
Faisal Jeylani Aweys – Somali taekwondo practitioner

Authors
Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame 'Hadrawi' (b. 1943) – songwriter, philosopher, and Somali Poet Laureate; also dubbed the Somali Shakespeare.
Nuruddin Farah (b. November 24, 1945) – Somali writer considered one of the greatest contemporary writers in the world.
Warsan Shire (b. 1988) – Somali poet
Abdillahi Suldaan Mohammed Timacade (1920–February 6, 1973) – prominent Somali poet known for his nationalist poems such as Kana siib Kana Saar.
Maxamed Daahir Afrax - Somali novelist and playwright. Afrax has published several novels and short stories in Somali and Arabic languages, and has also written two plays, the first being Durbaan Been ah ("A Deceptive Dream"), which was staged in Somalia in 1979. His major contribution in the field of theatre criticism is Somali Drama: Historical and Critical Study (1987).
Farah Mohamed Jama Awl (1937–1991) – Somali author. Specialized in historical fiction.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Ayaan Xirsi Cali or Ayaan Hirsi Magan) (b. November 13, 1969) – feminist and political writer
Cristina Ali Farah (b. 1973) – Somali-Italian writer and poet
Afdhere Jama (b. 1980) – Somali-American writer based in San Francisco
Ahmed Farah Ali 'Idaja' (Axmed Faarax Cali 'Idaajaa') (b. 1948) – Somali language writer .
Abdourahman Waberi (b. 1965) – writer and teacher
Musa Haji Ismail Galal (b. 1917) – Somali writer, scholar, historian and linguist. One of the foremost historical authorities on the Somali astrological, astronomical, meteorological and calendrical systems.
Ladan Osman – Somali poet and teacher.
Igiaba Scego – Somali-Italian writer
Yasmine Allas – Somali actress and writer.
Sofia Samatar – Somali-American writer
Abdukadir Osman – Somali writer

Directors
Abdisalam Aato – Somali film director and producer. Leader in Somaliwood cinematic movement.
Abdulkadir Ahmed Said (b. 1953) – prominent Somali film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor.
Mo Ali – Somali-British film director.
Idil Ibrahim – Somali filmmaker. Founder of Zeila Films.
Fathia Absie – Somali film director, broadcaster and writer.
Barni Ahmed Qaasim – Somali multimedia artist and filmmaker.
Said Salah Ahmed – Somali playwright, poet, educator and filmmaker.
Ali Said Hassan – Somali film director and producer. Former Somali Film Agency representative.

Entrepreneurs
Abdirashid Duale – award-winning Somali entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the CEO of the multinational enterprise Dahabshiil.
Omar A. Ali – Somali entrepreneur, accountant, financial consultant, philanthropist, and leading specialist on Islamic finance. Formerly CEO of Dar al-Maal al-Islami (DMI Trust), which under his management increased its assets from $1.6 billion USD to $4.0 billion USD. He is currently the chairman and founder of the multinational real estate corporation Integrated Property Investments Limited and its sister company Quadron investments.
Amina Moghe Hersi (b. 1963) – Award-winning Somali entrepreneur that has launched several multi-million dollar projects in Kampala, Uganda, such as the Oasis Centre luxury mall and the Laburnam Courts. She also runs Kingstone Enterprises Limited, one of the largest distributors of cement and other hardware materials in Kampala.
Aden Mohammed – prominent Somali banker and entrepreneur. He is the managing director of Barclays Bank in East and West Africa. Under his tenure BBK won the Banker Awards 2009.
Yussur A.F. Abrar – banker and entrepreneur. First female Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia.
Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim – twin fashion designers and owners of the Mataano brand.
Liban Abdi Egal – Founder and Chairman of First Somali Bank.
Hodan Nalayeh – Somali media executive and entrepreneur. President of the Cultural Integration Agency and the Vice President of Sales & Programming Development of Cameraworks Productions International.
Abdulkadir Ali – Somali-American entrepreneur. Former President of the Somali American Chamber of Commerce.
Hussein Mohamed – Somali entrepreneur. Vice Chairman of the Eastleigh Business Association.
Hussein Shire – Somali businessman. Founder and former CEO of Gateway Bus Company.
Nuria Sheikh Farah – Somali entrepreneur. Owner of Risala Enterprises Ltd. and Chairperson of Gargaar.
Nasra Agil – Somali-Canadian civil engineer and entrepreneur.
Nathif Jama Adam – Somali banker and politician. Former Senior Vice President and the Head of Sharjah Islamic Bank's Investments & International Banking Division, and Governor of Garissa County.
Faisal Hawar – Somali engineer and entrepreneur. CEO/President and co-founder of the International Somalia Development Foundation as well as the Maakhir Resource Company.

Journalists
Hassan Abdillahi – Somali journalist and social activist. Founder and Chairman of Ogaal Radio.
Mona Kosar Abdi – Somali-American multimedia journalist
Mohamed Abshir Waldo – political activist and journalist
Rageh Omaar (b. July 19, 1967) – Somali-British author and television news presenter. Formerly a BBC news correspondent in 2009, he moved to a new post at Al Jazeera English, where he currently presents the nightly weekday documentary series Witness.
Abdirahman Yabarow – Somali journalist. Editor-in-Chief of the VOA's Somali service.
Maya Jama – Somali broadcast journalist.
Mohamoud Sheikh Dalmar – Somali journalist and Islamic scholar.

Judges
Abdulqawi Yusuf (b. September 12, 1948) – prominent Somali international lawyer and judge with the International Court of Justice.
Mohamed Abdi Aware (?–November 12, 2009) – was a high-profile Somali judge in the northern semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia and a member of its Supreme Judicial Council. He was assassinated on 12 November 2009 outside a mosque in Bosaso, capital of Puntland.
Military leaders[edit]
Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (c. 1507–February 21, 1543) – 16th century Imam and military commander that led the Conquest of Abyssinia.
Mohammed Abdullah Hassan (April 7, 1856–December 21, 1920) – Somali nationalist and religious leader that established the Dervish state during the Scramble for Africa.
Hasna Doreh – early 20th century Somali female commander of the Dervish State that frequently joined battles against the imperial powers during the Scramble for Africa.
Muhammad Ali Samatar – former Minister of Defense, first Vice President, and Grand Commander of the Somali National Army (1969-1987)
Daud Abdulle Hirsi (1960–1965) – prominent Somali general considered the father of the Somalian Military.
Salaad Gabeyre Kediye (d. 1972) – major general in the Somali military and a revolutionary.
Mahamoud Mohamed – former Chief of General Staff of the Kenya Defence Forces
Akil Dhahar – leader of the Sanaag region and some portions of the Bari region
Muktar Hussein Afrah – officer in the army of the Transitional Federal Government
Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki (b. 1944) – Islamist leader in Somalia and military leader in the Islamic Courts Union.
Abdulahi Sheik Ismael Fara-Tag – commander in the army of the Transitional Federal Government
Mohammed Hussein Ali (b. 1956) – major general in the Kenyan Army and former Commissioner of the Kenya Police
Ahmed Mohamed Islam – chairman and military commander of Raskamboni movement.
Abdikarim Yusuf Adam – army officer and Chief of TFG Army.
Osman Omar Wehliye – commander of the Somali Police Force from March 2011
Omar Muhamoud Finnish (Cumar Maxamuud Finish) – Mogadishu-based faction leader
Osman Ali Atto (Cismaan Xasan Cali) (b. 1940) – faction leader affiliated with the Somali National Alliance
Botan Ise Alin (Bootaan Ciise Caalin) – former faction leader and former member of the Transitional Federal Government
Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade (Maxamed Ibraahim Xaabsade) – rebel soldier
Mohamed Afrah Qanyare (Maxamed Qanyare Afrax) (b. February 27, 1941) – former faction leader
Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdiid (Cabdi Xasan Cawaale Qeybdiid) (b. 1948) – militia leader affiliated with the Somali National Alliance
Abdullahi Ahmed Irro – General in the Somali National Army. Co-founder of the National Academy for Strategy.

Scientists
Hassan al-Jabarti (d. 1774) – Somali mathematician, theologian, astronomer and philosopher, considered one of the great scholars of the 18th century.
Warsame Ali (b. 1955) – Somali scientist and assistant professor at Prairie View A&M University, specialized in aerospace technology. He has previously worked for NASA.
Ali Said Faqi – Somali scientist and the leading researcher on the design and interpretation of toxicology studies at the MPI research center in Mattawan, Michigan.
Jama Musse Jama (b. 1967) – prominent Somali ethnomathematician and author. He is notable for his research on traditional Somali boardgames such as Shax and the history of mathematics in the Horn of Africa.
Abdusalam Abubakar (b. 1989/90) – one of the youngest winners of the BT Young Scientist of the Year Award who later went on to win the European Union Contest for Young Scientists for his project, which was entitled An Extension of Wiener's Attack on RSA.
Amina Said Ali – author, poet, and medical scientist based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Ahmed Mumin Warfa – scientist, specialised in botany and jointly discovered the Cyclamen somalense, the first genus from tropical Africa with his colleague Mats Thulin. Dr. Warfa is the "world's pre-eminent authority on frankincense", and a professor at Salt Lake Community College.
Osman Aden Abdulle – prominent Somali geneticist that has studied the Somali blood type and it's ethnogenesis. In 1987 he jointly discovered with his colleagues a new Rh gene complex producing the rare Cx (Rh9) antigen in the Somali population.

Miscellaneous
Hussain Bisad – Tallest Somali man alive with the largest hand span in the world

Please also remember that there are countless Somalis who are silently working day in and day out for the betterment of our people.

May Allah bless them all.

LOL evo MAINSTREAM being the key word here....but god bless those people..sadly they are a minority.

[EvolSyawla]

Look through them for names you recognize. Depending on what you're into (only modeling, or only journalism, or only academics) you will see names that are famous in that world.

Don't keep a narrow focus.

We all know entertainers because they are so present - K'naan, Imaan and Mo Farah. I know ALOT of the names above. We all should.

[KnowThySelf23]

Look through them for names you recognize. Depending on what you're into (only modeling, or only journalism, or only academics) you will see names that are famous in that world.

Don't keep a narrow focus.

We all know entertainers because they are so present - K'naan, Imaan and Mo Farah. I know ALOT of the names above. We all should.

your right...but what i meant was id love to hear someone somali in the news representing us, we hear about all these celebs and stuff but none of them are our people...id just like to relate to someone on tv is all lol....andi wish there were somali characters in movies and shows or books reppen us and showing the world what we are like....since everyone has the most negative image of us were the two most badly talked about race in the world...black and muslim. who knows maybe one day ill be doing all that myself

[EvolSyawla]

I disagree, but inshaAllah you will make Somalis proud as well.

What field are you into?

[SimplySerene]

your right...but what i meant was id love to hear someone somali in the news representing us, we hear about all these celebs and stuff but none of them are our people.

Say alhamdulillah that very few of our people are part of that world. Look what happened to Robin Williams, Lindsay Lohan etc. Today look at what happening to Bill Cosby today? The world that celebrities are in is terrible place.

[SimplySerene]

You are new to the forum to me. Welcome to the forum

[BeyondQabil]

I disagree, but inshaAllah you will make Somalis proud as well.

What field are you into?

You know you're talking to menace; right?

[anzeloti]

Ayaan Hersi Ali

[KnowThySelf23]

You are new to the forum to me. Welcome to the forum

yup! thank you

[KnowThySelf23]

I disagree, but inshaAllah you will make Somalis proud as well.

What field are you into?

not really sure as of late..i just started uni so I'm still trying to find my place in this world, but hopefully something i could be proud of.

[Itrah]

Somalis are less than 0.1% in most Western countries.

Why would you expect them to produce many celebs like the whites, jews, blacks etc? Statistically not possible.

[OWN15]

Because Somalis are not creative.

[KnowThySelf23]

Somalis are less than 0.1% in most Western countries.

Why would you expect them to produce many celebs like the whites, jews, blacks etc? Statistically not possible.

its possible if you put the work in...i see a lot of somali families discourage their kids from going into these fields...i learnt toppled music as a kid...but my parents shut it down quick after i said i want to be a musician..wanted to get into acting and my parents were like you can't do that cuz its haram...wanted to be a new reporter and they said there is no future in that..now at 20 i have no idea what i want to.....my point is we should encourage creativity rather than discourage it.