About this Event
To close this year’s Somali Week Festival, Kayd Somali Arts & Culture invites you to an evening of live music, celebration, and tribute, marking the festival’s finale with one of its most anticipated events. Final Beats returns as a night that honours the richness of Somali cultural expression across generations, bringing together contemporary performance, shared memory, and the vibrant energy of live music in a collective closing moment.
This year’s event will also honour Said Salah with a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his extraordinary contribution to Somali culture. Salah is a poet, educator, playwright, and filmmaker who, over several decades, has made a profound impact on Somali literature and the arts. The founder of Iftin Band, which was an educational band as one of the major bands in Somalia. To celebrate this occasion, members of Iftin Band will be performing, Sayid Khalifa, Addey Ali Ahmed (Caddey Cali Axmed) and live music of Nimco Yasin. This will be followed by the main closing act from Salah Sanaag (To be confirmed) and Isse Abdulaziz Ali (Iskilaaji)
Salah Abdirzack Mohamed (Saalah Sanaag) is an award-winning Somali-Kenyan singer-songwriter and one of the leading voices in contemporary Somali music. Known for his heartfelt music, he has built a huge international following, with nearly one million YouTube subscribers and over one million TikTok followers.
Isse Abdulaziz Ali (Iskilaaji) is an award-winning Somali singer-songwriter, musician and composer, celebrated for his romantic and culturally rich music. With millions of views across YouTube and a devoted international following, he is one of the most recognised voices in contemporary Somali music.
The event will be hosted by Abdisalan Hereri. Hereri is a veteran Somali journalist, media personality, and broadcaster whose career spans several decades. Widely recognized across the Somali-speaking world, he is known for his in-depth interviews, historical features, and cultural reporting. He currently produces digital content through his platform, Hereri Media.
Event venue & nearby stays
Queen Mary University of London, 327 Mile End Road, London, United Kingdom
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