This is a list of notable Somalis from Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia as well as the Somali diaspora.
Academics
Ali A. Abdi – sociologist and educationist, and professor of education and international development at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; former president of the Comparative and International Education Society of Canada (CIESC); founding/co-founding editor of the peer reviewed online publications, Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education and Cultural and Pedagogical Inquiry Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi – scholar, linguist and writer; published on Somali culture, history, language and ethnogenesis Aden Ibrahim Aw Hirsi – academic, politician, analyst. Has written extensively on Somali education reform, language dynamics and climate change Ali Jimale Ahmed – poet, essayist, scholar, and short story writer; published on Somali history and linguistics Shire Jama Ahmed (c. 1935–1989) – linguist who devised a unique Latin script for the Somali language Suleiman Ahmed Gulaid – prominent professor and the president of Amoud University Abdirahman Hussein – scholar and teacher at University of Tennessee Abdi Kusow – professor of sociology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa; has written extensively on Somali sociology and anthropology Mohamed Haji Mukhtar – professor of African and Middle Eastern History at Savannah State University; has written extensively on the history of Somalia and the Somali language Ismail Jim'ale Osoble – lawyer, once served as Minister of Information in the government of Aden Abdullah Osman Daar Abdi Ismail Samatar – prominent scholar and professor at the University of Minnesota Ahmed Ismail Samatar – prominent professor and Dean of the Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester College; editor of Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies Said Sheikh Samatar (1943–2015) – prominent scholar and writer and former professor of history at Rutgers University; main areas of interest are history and linguistics
Activists
Elman Ali Ahmed (1935–1996) – Founder of Elman Peace Centre Dekha Ibrahim Abdi (1964–2011) – peace activist in Kenya Zam Zam Abdullahi Abdi – human rights activist and journalist Leila Abukar – political activist Fartuun Adan – social activist; founder and executive director of the Elman Peace Centre Elman Ali Ahmed – entrepreneur and social activist Halima Ahmed – political activist with the Youth Rehabilitation Center in Mogadishu Hodan Ahmed – political activist and Senior Program Officer at the National Democratic Institute Ifrah Ahmed – social activist; founder of the UYI NGO Nimco Ahmed – Somali-American political activist; State Director for the DFL Abdulkadir Yahya Ali (1957–2005) – peace activist, co-director and founder of the Center for Research and Dialogue. Abdirizak Bihi – social activist; Director of the Somali Education and Social Advocacy Center Ilwad Elman – social activist at the Elman Peace Centre Asha Haji Elmi (Caasha Xaaji Cilmi) (b. 1962) – peace activist in Somalia Leyla Hussein – psychotherapist and social activist; Chief Executive of Hawa's Haven; co-founder of Daughters of Eve Ahmed Hussen – Somali-Canadian lawyer and social activist; President of the Canadian Somali Congress Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim – Somali social activist Hanan Ibrahim – social activist based in the UK; founder of the Somali Family Support Group (SFSG) Fatima Jibrell (b. 1947) – Somali-American environmental activist; co-founder and executive director of the Horn of Africa Relief and Development Organization ("Horn Relief"); co-founder of Sun Fire Cooking; was instrumental in the creation of the Women's Coalition for Peace Hirsi Magan (Xirsi Magan Ciise) (1935–2008) – activist, scholar and one of the leading figures of the Somali Revolution Magid Magid – Somali-British activist and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of Sheffield Adam Matan – activist and community organiser who was the first Somali-Brit to be awarded the OBE medal by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge for services to the Somali community in the United Kingdom. Hawa Aden Mohamed – social activist; chairperson of the Galkayo Education Centre for Peace and Development Musse Olol – American social activist and Chairman of the Somali American Council of Oregon (SACOO) Hibaaq Osman – political strategist; chairperson of the ThinkTank for Arab Women, the Dignity Fund, and El-Karama Hawo Tako (d. 1948) – early 20th century female nationalist whose sacrifice became a symbol for pan-Somalism Mohamud Siad Togane (b. 1943) – Somali Canadian poet, professor, and political activist Shadya Yasin – Somali-Canadian social activist and member of the Ontario Premier's Council on Youth Opportunities
Artists
Aar Maanta – singer-songwriter, composer, and music producer Abdi Sinimo (c. 1920s–1967) – artist and inventor of the Balwo musical style Abdullahi Qarshe (1924–1994) – musician, poet and playwright known for his innovative styles of music which included a wide variety of musical instruments such as the guitar, piano, and oud Alisha Boe – actress, known for portraying Jessica in Netflix's original series 13 Reasons Why. Ali Feiruz (1931–1994) – musician; one of the first generation of Somali artists; prominent member of Hobolada Waaberi musical troupes Amin Amir – Somali-Canadian cartoonist and painter Barkhad Abdi – actor, best known for his portrayal of Abduwali Muse in the film, yCaptain Phillips, co-starring Tom Hanks Elisa Kadigia Bove – Somali-Italian actress and activist Guduuda 'Arwo – singer Hassan Sheikh Mumin (1930/31–2008) – poet, reciter, playwright, broadcaster, actor and composer Hasan Adan Samatar (b. 1953) – artist during the 1970s and 80s Dada Masiti, Ashraf poet, mystic and Islamic scholar. Mohamed Mooge Liibaan (1942–1984) – artist, teacher, instrumentalist, poetry and veteran Ahmed Mooge Liibaan (d. 1997) – artist from the Radio Hargeisa generation Magool (1948–2004) (Halima Khaliif Omar) – considered in Somalia as one of the greatest entertainers of all time Mohamed Sulayman Tubeec the King of Vocals Mocky (Dominic Salole) (b. 1974) – Somali-Canadian pop music performer Maryam Mursal (b. 1950) – musician, composer and vocalist whose work has been produced by the record label Real World Nimco Happy – singer Marian Joan Elliott Said (Poly Styrene) (1957–2011) – pioneering Somali-British punk rock singer with X-Ray Spex Jiim Sheikh Muumin – singer and instrumentalist Jonis Bashir – Somali-Italian actor and singer K'naan (b. 1978) – Somali-Canadian hip hop artist Khadija Qalanjo – singer and folklore dancer in the 1970s and 1980s Saba Anglana – Somali-Italian actress and international singer Waaberi – Somalia's foremost musical group; toured throughout several countries in Africa and Asia, including Egypt, Sudan and China Waayaha Cusub – music collective led by Falis Abdi Xiddigaha Geeska – Somali music band based in Hargeisa
Athletes
Liban Abdi (b. 1988) – international footballer; currently plays for Ferencvárosi TC in the Hungarian First Division, on loan from Sheffield United of England Mohammed Ahamed (b. 1985) – Somali-Norwegian – Canadian Olympian in 2012, Nike-sponsored athlete Abdi Mohamed Ahmed (b. 1962) – professional footballer Ahmed Said Ahmed (b. 1998) – professional footballer Omar Artan (b. 1992) – FIFA football referee Amin Askar (b. 1985) – Somali-Norwegian professional football player, playing for Fredrikstad FK in the Norwegian Premier League Faisal Jeylani Aweys – taekwondo practitioner Zahra Bani (b. 1979) – Somali-Italian javelin thrower Abdi Bile (b. 1962) – world champion middle distance runner in the 1500 metres, and three time Olympian Ayub Daud (b. 1990) – international footballer who plays as a forward/attacking midfielder for A.S. Gubbio 1910, on loan from Juventus Rizak Dirshe (b. 1972) – Swedish middle distance runner Mo Farah (b. 1983) – Somali-British gold medalist in international track and field; currently holds the British indoor record in the 3000 metre and won the 3000 m at the 2009 European Indoor Championships in Turin Youssouf Hersi (b. 1982)– professional footballer Abdisalam Ibrahim (b. 1991) – Somali-Norwegian footballer who plays for Manchester City; Premier League's first Somali player and also the first East African Fabio Liverani (b. 1976) – Somali-Italian international footballer Mustafa Mohamed (b. 1979) – Somali-Swedish long-distance runner who mainly competes in the 3000 meter steeplechase; won gold in the 2006 Nordic Cross Country Championships and at the first SPAR European Team Championships in Leiria, Portugal in 2009; beat the 31-year-old Swedish record in 2007 Saadiq Abdikadir Mohamed (b. 1996) – Somali footballer having represented Kenya and Somalia internationally Mustafa Mahamuud (b. 1998) - fastest Somali in history
Authors
Jama Musse Jama (Jaamac Muuse Jaamac) (b. 1967) – ethnomathematician and writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Ayaan Xirsi Cali or Ayaan Hirsi Magan) (b. 1969) – feminist and political writer Gaariye (Mohamed Hashi Dhamac) (b. 1951) – poet and writer Yasmine Allas – actress and writer Farah Awl (1937–1991) – author; specialized in historical fiction Cristina Ali Farah (b. 1973) – Somali-Italian writer and poet Elmi Boodhari (d. 1940) – pioneer, writer and poet, known as (King of Romance) among Somalis Nuruddin Farah (b. 1945) – considered one of the greatest contemporary writers in the world Musa Haji Ismail Galal (b. 1917) – writer, scholar, historian and linguist; one of the foremost historical authorities on the Somali astrological, astronomical, meteorological and calendrical systems Hadrawi (Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame) (b. 1943) – songwriter, philosopher, and Somali Poet Laureate; dubbed the "Somali Shakespeare" Afdhere Jama (b. 1980) – Somali-American writer based in San Francisco Abdukadir Osman – writer Aadan Carab, poet who narrated the Dhulbahante genocide at the hands of European colonialists in the Darawiish era Salaan Carrabey (d. 1943) – legendary poet Hussein M. Adam – writer, journalist and professor Ladan Osman – poet and teacher Sofia Samatar – Somali-American writer Igiaba Scego – Somali-Italian writer Warsan Shire (b. 1988) – poet Abdillahi Suldaan Mohammed Timacade (1920–1973) – poet known for his nationalist poems such as "Kana siib Kana Saar" Abdourahman Waberi (b. 1965) – writer and teacher Nadifa Mohamed – Somali-British novelist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
Directors
Fathia Absie – film director, broadcaster and writer Said Salah Ahmed – playwright, poet, educator and filmmaker Mo Ali – Somali-British film director Ali Said Hassan – film director and producer; former Somali Film Agency representative Idil Ibrahim – filmmaker; founder of Zeila Films Soraya Miré – writer, filmmaker and activist Barni Ahmed Qaasim – multimedia artist and filmmaker Abdulkadir Ahmed Said (b. 1953) – film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor
Entrepreneurs
Nasra Agil – Somali-Canadian civil engineer and entrepreneur Omar A. Ali – entrepreneur, accountant, philanthropist, and specialist on Islamic finance; formerly CEO of DMI Trust, currently chairman of Integrated Property Investments Ltd and Quadron investments Abdirashid Duale – entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the CEO of the multinational enterprise Dahabshiil Liban Abdi Egal – founder and Chairman of First Somali Bank Faisal Hawar – engineer and entrepreneur; CEO, President, and co-founder of the International Somalia Development Foundation as well as the Maakhir Resource Company Amina Moghe Hersi (b. 1963) – entrepreneur; has launched several multimillion-dollar projects in Kampala, Uganda, such as the Oasis Centre luxury mall and the Laburnam Courts; runs Kingstone Enterprises Limited, one of the largest distributors of cement and other hardware materials in Kampala Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim – twin fashion designers and owners of the Mataano brand