Famous Sudanese Singer Hamad Al Rayah Dies of COVID-19

Famous Sudanese singer Hamad Al Rayah has died in Khartoum, Sudan on the early morning of 1 December 2020 at the age of 80, succumbing to the coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Born in 1940 in Tuti Island, Al Rayah is one of the most prominent Sudanese singers who has contributed to the development of Sudanese music since the late 1950s. He has produced more than sixty songs. His most famous songs include “Tayer Al Rahu”, “Maria”, “Inta Kulak Zina”, “Al Mafraq”, “Al Rahail”, “Shalo Al Kalam”, “Ayima Kalouzina” by the poet Bur Muhammad Nour, “Ajobni Leila Joe” a folk or heritage song that tells the story of resistance to the flood of Tuti Island.

He performed songs by Arab poets such as “Askni Ya Jarrah” by Tunisian poet Abu al-Qasim al-Shabi, and “Asfourtan in Hijaz” by Egyptian poet Ahmed Shawki. 

Many took to social media to mourn his loss.

إنا لله و إنا إليه راجعون، فى ذمة الله الأستاذ الفنان/ حمد الريح، الذى رحل فى الساعات الأولى من صباح اليوم متأثرا بالإصابة ب #كورونا pic.twitter.com/2l8YAoskg2

— BLACKBOY سودانى (@blackboy) December 1, 2020

رحل حمام الوادي 😢 رحم الله الفنان #حمد_الريح و تغمده بواسع رحمته pic.twitter.com/myxRFpuZU4

— wafaa tageldin (@tageldin_wafaa) November 30, 2020

اللهم أغفر للفنان #حمد_الريح وأرحمه بقدر ماقدم من عطاء لبلده وشعبه
وبقدر ما أثرى وجدآن هذه الأمة بأجمل وأعذب الأصوآت والألحان
وأنزله اللهم أعلى الجنان وصبر اللهم أهله وأسرته ومُحبيه
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون pic.twitter.com/T50fe0zyWb

— Atif (@elsadig_atif) November 30, 2020

On 26 November 2020, former Prime Minister Sadiq Al Mahdi died at the age of 84 from the coronavirus infection (COVID-19), three weeks after being admitted to hospital in the UAE for treatment.

COVID-19 cases in Sudan are on the rise with more than 16,400 COVID-19 cases in Sudan. More than 1,600 people have died of the virus and more than 9,854 have recovered.

Several Sudanese ministers recently tested positive for the COVID-19. Sudan’s acting Health Minister Osama Ahmed Abdul Rahim warned there will be more cases across the country and hinted at a possibility of new restrictions. The reopening of schools have been postponed for two weeks to ensure that health requirements are implemented before the start of the new school year, which was scheduled to begin on 22 November.