Quick Facts
Biography
Abdallah Abdoulkader Abass (commonly known as Abdallah Lee), (August 7, 1963 – September 18, 2007) was a well-known Djiboutian songwriter, composer and singer. He still remain the most famous singers of Afar language in Djibouti.
Biography
Abdallah was born on 7 August 1963 in Djibouti City, Quartier 3 at the maternity Quartier of the former Paul-Faure hospital. He is the son of Abdoulkader Abass Bourhan Aboubaker, great-grandson of Aboubaker Ibrahim, governor of Zeila (Somalia) under Turkish sovereignty at the end of the 19th century, and Kadidja Said Abdallah Baabad.
He lived with his family, first in Quartier 3, then in Quartier 1, and finally in city Arhiba. He passes the examinations at the end of the first cycle and is oriented towards technical education at the vocational school. He abandons his studies and obtains a job as a storekeeper in Obock, where his mother's family lives. It was then that he began the music with Osman Adoyta, Moussa Aden, Bourhan Daoud, Ahmed Abdallah, Ahmed Ibrahim, Mohamed Aden. As early as 1979, he gained a certain notoriety.
During the years 1980-1990, like the group Dinkâra he practiced an "Afro-rock with nomadic colors", and became involved during the civil war. While singing mainly in Afar, he also interprets Somali songs. Abdallah Lee travels to France, Ethiopia, Belgium and Sweden. He participated in various Djiboutian groups during his career and at the Fest'Horn festival.
He became very sick, Abdallah Lee was transported to France in a hospital in Poitiers, he died on September 18, 2007 at 44 years old. He leaves his wife and seven children.