K'naan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids K'naan
K'naan in 2024
Background information
Birth name	Keinan Abdi Warsame
Also known as	K'naan Warsame, Keinaan
Born	(1978-04-16) 16 April 1978 (age 47) Mogadishu, Somalia
Origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Alternative hip hop world reggae fusion spoken word
Occupation(s)	Rapper singer songwriter record producer poet film director
Instruments	Vocals piano guitar percussion bass
Years active	2000–present
Labels	A&M Octone

Keinan Abdi Warsame (born 16 April 1978), known by his stage name K'naan, is a Somali-Canadian rapper, singer, and filmmaker. He became famous after releasing the song "Wavin' Flag". This song was chosen as the official anthem for Coca-Cola's promotions for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. K'naan's music mixes hip hop with sounds from Somali music and world music. He has won a Grammy Award and is also involved in many good causes.

Early Life

K'naan was born on April 16, 1978, in Mogadishu, Somalia. His family had a strong artistic background. His grandfather was a well-known poet, and his aunt Magool was a famous singer. K'naan's name, Keynaan, means "traveller" in the Somali language.

K'naan spent his early childhood in Mogadishu. His father, Abdi, had moved to New York City to work as a taxi driver. K'naan's early years were peaceful, filled with poetry and songs, and his aunt Magool often sang to him. However, things changed when the civil war began. When he was 12, three of his friends were shot. K'naan himself had a close call when he found a grenade, mistook it for a potato, and threw it away just before it exploded.

Because of the increasing violence, his mother decided to move the family. When K'naan was 13, he, his mother, and his two siblings moved to the United States. They lived in New York for six months before moving to Toronto, Canada. His family still lives there.

In Canada, K'naan started learning English. He listened to hip hop albums by artists like Nas and Rakim. Even though he couldn't speak English well yet, he learned hip-hop and rap by copying the sounds and style. He then began rapping himself.

Personal Life

K'naan has two sons, born in 2005 and 2007.

Career Highlights

K'naan in 2007

In 1999, K'naan spoke at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees meeting. He performed a spoken word piece, criticizing the UN for its failed peacekeeping efforts in Somalia. Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour was very impressed. He invited K'naan to work on his 2001 album Building Bridges, which allowed K'naan to tour the world.

This led to K'naan performing at other UN events and music festivals. He met Canadian producers Brian West and Jarvis Church in 2002. They helped produce his first album, The Dusty Foot Philosopher, released in 2005. The album was highly praised. In 2006, it won the Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year. It also won a BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music in 2007.

K'naan toured and worked with many famous artists like Nelly Furtado, Mos Def, and The Roots. He also collaborated with Damian Marley.

His second album, Troubadour, came out in 2009. The first song from the album was "ABC's." K'naan's music has been featured in video games like Madden NFL 09 and FIFA 06. In 2012, K'naan released a 5-song EP called More Beautiful Than Silence. This EP included songs with Nas and Nelly Furtado.

K'naan's 2012 album, Country, God or the Girl, was not as successful as Troubadour. K'naan later wrote an article in the New York Times explaining that he had tried to make his music more "mainstream" for this album. He felt he had moved away from his original style.

In 2012, K'naan also published a children's book called When I Get Older: The Story Behind Wavin' Flag.

In February 2024, K'naan won his first Grammy Award for his song "Refugee." It won in the category for Best Song for Social Change. His first film as a director, Mother Mother, was shown at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.

Political Views

K'naan cares deeply about his Somali background and often speaks about the politics of his home country. Many see him as a voice for the Somali community in Toronto. In 2007, he spoke about changes in Somalia's government. He supported the Islamic Courts Union, disagreeing with Western criticisms of Muslim governing systems. He has also spoken out against the clan system used in Somalia.

K'naan's connection to his Somali roots is clear in his music. His first popular song, "Soobax," means "come out" in Somali. The song criticized the warlords who held power in Mogadishu. This song became popular in Somalia, Canada, and the United States. K'naan often raps in both English and Somali, which makes his music unique.

K'naan's music and public appearances have helped people understand more about the Somali and Black communities in the West. He shares his personal experiences of being Somali in Canada.

Music Style and Influences

K'naan in 2009

Critics have described K'naan's music as a mix of Bob Marley, conscious American hip-hop, and powerful protest poetry. His voice has been compared to Eminem, but his songs are about different topics. K'naan says he makes "urgent music with a message." He talks about the situation in Somalia and calls for an end to violence.

He explains that he simply "shows the state of the world." He believes that if you describe things as they are, it can be seen as political. K'naan describes his music as a "mix of tradition and an explanation of my own life and past experiences."

K'naan says he is influenced by Somali music and traditional Somali instruments. His 2009 album, Troubadour, also uses sounds from Ethiopian music, especially Ethio-Jazz. His song "Fatima" is about a childhood friend who was killed in the Somali civil war.

Live Performances

K'naan used to perform with a small acoustic band. This style made him different from most hip-hop artists. It showed that he valued meaningful lyrics more than flashy shows.

After his album Troubadour, K'naan started touring with a larger electric band, including drums, bass, electric guitar, and keyboards. His shows also began to feature more elaborate lighting. This change helped K'naan become more well-known and reach a wider audience.

2010 FIFA World Cup Tour

K'naan at the 2010 FIFA World Cup

A remixed version of K'naan's song, "Wavin' Flag", was chosen as Coca-Cola's anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It was used in commercials for the event in South Africa. The song was also included in the official EA Sports 2010 FIFA World Cup video game. In December 2009, K'naan performed the song live during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, which visited 86 countries. "Wavin' Flag" became a top 10 hit in 11 countries and reached number one in Mexico, Austria, China, Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. To connect with different cultures, K'naan also recorded the song with local artists from around the world.

Other Notable Performances

On May 8, 2011, K'naan performed live in Atlanta for Coca-Cola's 125th anniversary. On October 15, 2011, he was one of the performers at the "Decade of Difference" concert in Los Angeles. This concert celebrated former US President Bill Clinton's 65th birthday and the 10-year anniversary of the Clinton Foundation. K'naan performed three songs and even brought Bono from U2 onto the stage for a duet. He also spoke about his childhood in Somalia and how President Clinton's work helped him.

Collaborations

K'naan performing in 2010

K'naan has worked with many artists:

• In 2006, he worked with M-1 from Dead Prez on the song "'Till We Get There."
• In 2008, he collaborated with the Malian duo Amadou & Mariam on their song "Africa."
• In 2009, he worked with British rock band Keane on two songs, including "Stop for a Minute."
• He also collaborated with American rapper Wale on "Um'Ricka" and "TV in the Radio."
• In September 2009, K'naan teamed up with DJ/producer J.Period to release The Messengers, a remix project honoring Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, and Bob Dylan.
• In 2010, 50 Canadian musicians and artists joined K'naan as Young Artists for Haiti to create a charity version of "Wavin' Flag" to help Haiti.
• He made different versions of "Wavin' Flag" with artists like David Bisbal (Spanish), Nancy Ajram (Arabic), and Jacky Cheung and Jane Zhang (Chinese).
• In 2010, he collaborated with Damian Marley and Nas on their album Distant Relatives.
• In 2011, K'naan was a guest singer on Simple Plan's album Get Your Heart On! for the song "Summer Paradise."
• In 2012, he released "Nothing to Lose" featuring Nas.
• He also released "Bang, Bang" featuring Adam Levine from Maroon 5.
• In 2017, K'naan appeared in the music video "Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)" from Lin-Manuel Miranda's The Hamilton Mixtape.
• In 2021, he was featured on Sharma Boy's songs "Waayo Waayo" and "Somalia Somali Baa Leh."

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

K'naan is also involved in many good causes. In 2011, he worked with Bono to raise awareness about the drought in Eastern Africa. He performed concerts to help with this cause.

K'naan also supported the Canadian Bill C-393, which aimed to increase medical help to countries in Africa. He worked with Stephen Lewis and others, but the bill did not pass.

Awards and Nominations

• 2006 Juno Awards
  • Rap Recording of the Year for The Dusty Foot Philosopher (Won)
• 2010 Juno Awards
  • Rap Recording of the Year for Troubadour (Nominated)
  • Artist of the Year (Won)
  • Songwriter of the Year (Won)
• 2010 Mobo Awards
  • African Artist of the Year (Won)
• 2011 Juno Awards
  • Single of the Year (Won)
• 2011 SOCAN International Achievement Award
• 2012 MTV Video Music Awards
  • Best Video with a Message for "Is Anybody Out There?" (Nominated)
• 2012 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award Winner
• 2014 African Muzik Magazine Awards
  • Best Male Diaspora (Nominated)
• 2017 MTV Video Music Awards
  • Best Fight Against the System for "Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)" (Won)
• 2024 Grammy Awards
  • Best Song for Social Change for "Refugee" (Won)
• 2024 Toronto International Film Festival
  • FIPRESCI Prize for Mother Mother (Won)
• 2024 SOCAN Cultural Impact Award for "Wavin' Flag" (Won)

Discography

Studio Albums

• What Next? (2000) (as Keinaan)
• My Life Is a Movie (2004)
• The Dusty Foot Philosopher (2005)
• Troubadour (2009)
• Country, God or the Girl (2012)

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: K'naan para niños

• Canadian hip hop
• Music of Canada
• Music of Somalia