Nimco Happy’s name is now known and loved by millions of people around the world. But only a month ago, very few outside East Africa had heard of her. Hers is a very 21st Century story. Her song Isii Nafta, which is known in English as I Love You More Than My Life, recorded in 2017, was popular among Somalis and often played at weddings. In October, a British-Somali TikTok influencer, Akafi Ali, posted a video of himself dancing to Isii Nafta at a wedding. Something about the catchy song caught the imagination of his followers, and in a day the video had a million views. Now there are more than 100,000 videos online of fans throwing shapes and singing along to Nimco’s song. Celebrities have got in on the act, including US rapper Cardi B, South African comedian Trevor Noah, and British-Somali Olympic athlete Mo Farah. It’s the biggest thing since Jerusalema, the South African song by a relatively unknown artist, Master KG, which took the world by storm a year or so ago. The song has brought joy to all kinds of people, but especially Somalis, who are proud to be associated with something so positive and celebratory. Nimco Happy was born in Mogadishu, but grew up in Hargeisa and Nairobi She comes from an artistic family, most of whom are poets. She became a full-time musician in 2015, and was a member of Fan-dhis Band in Nairobi, along with her uncle, Bushaawi.
