Abdel Karim el Kably

Abdel Karim el Kabli (Arabic: عبد الكريم الكابلي‎), sometimes spelled el Kably or al Kabli, is a Sudanese singer, poet, composer, songwriter and humanitarian known for his songs with themes of love, passion, nationalism, Sudanese culture and folklore.

Abdel Karim el Kabli
Background information
Born1933 (age 86–87)
Port Sudan, Sudan
GenresSudanese music, Arabic music
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, composer, poet, oud player, humanitarian
InstrumentsOud, shetern and pennywhistle
Years active1960–present
Websitehttp://www.alkabli.net

Early life

El Kabli was born in the city of Port Sudan in 1933. During childhood, he developed an interest in the Arabic language, especially the old Arabic poems, and learned to play music on a penny whistle. At the age of sixteen, he moved to Khartoum to attend the Khartoum Commercial Secondary School, where he studied Sudanese folk music and Arabic poetry. His musical interest evolved to the oud (lute) and shetern (small drum), which he learned by himself.[1]

El Kabli's songs

El Kabli's songs contain a diversity of topics and scenes including love, passion, revolution, nationalism and Sudanese folklore. Some of his songs make use of old Arabic poems. Others are in Sudanese Arabic dialect that require deep knowledge of the language and customs.

Some of his famous songs include "Ya Bint Ashreen" (O that Girl in her twenties), "Husenek Fa Masher" (My Love Is More Than The Sweet Perfume...), "Sukker Sukker" (Sugar Sugar),[2] "Asia wa Africa" (Asia and Africa), "Noama", "Cleopatra", "Limaza" (Why?), and "Merowi".

Al Kabli has been very active in peace and reconciliation efforts in Darfur and South Sudan and through his music and his social influence has constantly stressed the richness of the ethnic diversity in the country. In 2005, he joined other well-known artists and musicians and travelled to South Darfur during the 16 Days of Activism for Violence Against Women, where he performed in camps for the internally displaced and in the Nyala stadium. His music and his poetry has focussed on women's equality and women's health over the past decade. He is an honorary Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund.

Discography
  • Sudan (~1967, Afrotone)

Contributing artist

Awards
  • On 12 May 2002, AlKabli was awarded an honorary doctorate in literature from Nyala University, Nyala, Sudan
  • Won the Gold Award at the hands of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
  • On 7 October 2004, he was awarded the UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for Obstetric Fistula in Sudan for his advocacy for women health, gender equality and human rights.
  • In January 2008, he was awarded the second honorary doctorate in music and arts from Sudan University.

References
  1. "Abdel Karim el Kabli | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  2. "Abdel Karim El Kably* – Sudan: The Music And Songs Of Abdel Karim El Kably". discogs. Retrieved 2 August 2018.


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