Ibn Al Badiya 

Ibn Al Badiya  was born 1937 in Umm Dawm, Khartoum, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. He was one of Sudan’s most influential singers and actors, whose career spanned more than six decades. He was raised in a conservative family and grew up between Umm Dawm and Abu Qaroun, first studying at Al-Khalwa  before entering secular education.

He was introduced to music through Madih Nabawi , and later deeply inspired by Umm Kulthum, whose voice expanded his musical vision. Although he began singing as a teenager, family pressure delayed his public debut until 1959. When his father recognised his voice on the radio, he was asked to change his name to protect the family’s reputation, connected to a well-known Sufi lineage. He adopted the name Al Badiya, referencing his connection to the Baadiyah .Ibn Al Badiya collaborated closely with poets such as Mohamed Yousif Mousa and Abu Amna Hamid, producing many of his most celebrated songs. His discography includes over 117 songs across albums, EPs, film, and theatre, and reflects both popular Sudanese music and his roots in Madih Nabawi. Over his long career, he also supported and introduced major artists, including Mahmoud Abdulaziz.His popularity extended beyond Sudan to Ethiopia, Chad, Nigeria, Qatar, and Kuwait. Stories of his cultural impact are legendary — including an account that a planned attack on a White Nile steamer was abandoned because Ibn Al Badiya was on board, out of respect for the artist.

Beyond music, Ibn Al Badiya became an important figure in Sudanese theatre and cinema. He began acting on stage before starring in Tajouje, later adapted into film in 1977, followed by international and regional productions such as Toar Aljar in Germany and Eyes Journey .Ibn Al Badiya passed away at the age of 82 on 16 September 2019 in Amman, Jordan, after suffering a heart attack. He had recently performed at the “Joy of Sudan” concert, where he sang “Oh! My Country , marking a historic moment just before Sudan’s civil-military council was formed.

His legacy lives on as a bridge between Sudanese spiritual tradition, popular music, and modern performance.