Riding off the wave of his biggest hit to date, Hanad Bandz knowsthis is the perfect time for the rest of Africa — and the world — to recognize the catchiness of Somali artists.
It's a cold January night in Stockholm, but the chill hasn't stopped hundreds of Somalis from gathering to see Hanad Bandz, the voice behind the hottest Somali song today.
When the Somaliland Canadian artist takes the stage, the audience erupts in excitement. Somali women, some wearing hijabs and others not, scream as the intimate venue fills with energy. The excitement peaks when his viral hit, "Sameeyn," blares through the speakers. Bandz initially sings along but soon surrenders to the crowd's word-for-word chorus, dancing down the runway stage.
One thing is clear: Hanad Bandz is a star, and we're just living in his world!
At 28, Bandz has experienced similar euphoric reactions throughout his debut European tour. "Sameeyn" has amassed over 15 million YouTube views in just five months, becoming an anthem for Somali communities worldwide. "They make me play it three times," he tells OkayAfrica with a chuckle, having recently arrived in London. "They love the song. Everywhere we went, there was so much love. And I keep hearing from other cities asking me to perform there next."
Despite having one of the biggest African hits in recent months, Bandz remains relatively unknown outside Somali-speaking communities in Africa and the diaspora. Yet the song has united the vast ethnic Somali diaspora — from the Horn of Africa across cities like Stockholm and Mogadishu.
Bandz had been making music for eight years before achieving his biggest hit. Born to a Somali family from Somaliland in Canada, he spent much of his childhood between the Middle East and Somaliland before moving back to Toronto at 17. Adjusting to life in Toronto was a challenge despite its large Somali community. Hence, music became his refuge.
Influenced by artists like Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Childish Gambino and Wizkid, he began writing raps and freestyling with friends for fun and experimenting with music at home, but it wasn't until a session at a studio in Toronto — his first-ever — that he realized his potential. "I liked how I sounded in the studio. It was so much cleaner and professional. That gave me the hunger to record more," he says. He eventually became part of the Toronto-based rap groupTribal East, solidifying the foundation of his artistic journey.During COVID, Bandz's music took a backseat. His return to Hargeisa in 2022 marked what he refers to as his “coming home period,” followed by the release of "Kale Tum," an Afrobeats-infused hit. When "Sameeyn" took off, Bandz was simply continuing to do what he loved. "I'm not new to this. I'm true to this," he says. "People often don't realize how long it takes to get recognized. No matter how big you are, it's not always immediate. I've had songs with five or six million listeners, and people still asked, 'Who's this guy?' Then when a song hits 30 million, they think you blew up overnight."
Sameeyn may seem like an overnight success, but its creation was spontaneous. While in Kenya for an event, Bandz met Kenyan-based producerPaulothrough a friend. Initially unsure about the beat, Bandz freestyled — and within an hour, the song was born. "When I first started flowing on it, it sounded good. Then I freestyled the whole song," he says. But he was still skeptical until he dropped a sample on TikTok that generated massive demand for the full release: "I saw everyone back home using it. I saw people in Mogadishu using it. I saw people in Hargeisa using it. People in Nairobi and everywhere!"
The song's universal appeal lies in its message: a heartfelt plea for patience from a partner and acknowledgment of their love through hard times. "It's a relatable love song but also a party anthem," Bandz explains.
Rapping in Somali reflects Bandz's identity and roots. "Somali is a big part of who I am. It's where my family is from, where I spent my early years, and where I live now," he says, adding that performing in his native language is fun and meaningful, although he's more fluent in English.
Photo courtesy of Hanad Bandz.
"This summer, I want to release great vibes and be the soundtrack to the season."
Despite filling venues in Europe, Bandz remains relatively under the radar in Toronto, which ranks only eighth among his top listening cities. Reflecting on this, Bandz notes that while Toronto has creative spaces, the infrastructure doesn't fully support artists like him. "My music was more receptive abroad," he shares, citing stronger audiences in cities like London, Stockholm and Nairobi.
He says young ethnic Somalis are responding well to Somali music incorporating more modern production and sounds that can appeal to a broader audience beyond traditional Somali music. Bandz says the strong Somali presence online, particularly on platforms like TikTok, is driving this shift in musical tastes among young Somalis.
However, this is the perfect time for the rest of Africa — and the world — to recognize the catchiness of Somali artists. He points to artists like Lil Baliil–a key founder of the new wave – alongside Isma IP, Didi Naji and Naji Productions, Sharma Boy, Neggy and Doni B. "I don't even know why we don't get as much coverage," Bandz admits. "We have songs that do numbers — like 30 million — and artists who sell out big shows. We have artists with millions of subscribers."
Over the past four years, Somali artists have embraced production styles that resonate across cultures and Bandz sees this as the perfect time for broader recognition.
Collaborations are key to his vision of elevating Somali music. He dreams of working with African artists like Burna Boy and Diamond Platnumz and Canadian icons like Drake and The Weeknd. But first, after months on the road, Bandz plans to take a break during Ramadan, making a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia before returning to the studio to prepare his first full-length album. "I've made enough music for two albums," he says. "This summer, I want to release great vibes and be the soundtrack to the season."