Abdel Karim al Kabli

Al Kabli was born in the city of Port Sudan in 1932.[1] 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.[2]

Al 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),[3] "Asia wa Africa" (Asia and Africa), "Noama", "Cleopatra", "Limaza" (Why?), and "Merowi".

He was very active in peace and reconciliation efforts in Darfur and South Sudan and, through his music and his social influence, 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 latterly focussed on women's equality and women's health. He was an honorary Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund.

Al Kabli died on 2 December 2021, in the United States, where he had lived with his family in the years before his death.[4]

• Abdel Karim al Kably discography on discogs

Contributing artist

• The Rough Guide to the Music of North Africa (1997, World Music Network)

• On 12 May 2002, El Kabli was awarded an honorary doctorate in literature from Nyala University, Nyala, Sudan
• He was presented with the Gold Award by 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's health, gender equality and human rights.
• In January 2008, he was awarded his second honorary doctorate in music and arts from Sudan University.

• Music of Sudan

• Al Kabli Official Homepage
• Al Kabli KIF Official Organization Homepage
• Al Kabli's Facebook page
• Al Kabli CDs Online
• Al Kabli's Book "Melodies not Militants "
• Abdel Karim al Kabli discography at Discogs