Wardi began his life as a music teacher at Sudanese schools in the 50s.
He was then involved in a union struggle to defend teachers’ rights before
joining the radio as a first class singer and composer.
It is hard to separate between his political beliefs and artistic
choices. He built the latter on fine lyrics that succeeded in offering an
“alternative song” to counter Sudanese pop songs of the era.
Wardi’s rise to success was in a big part owed to the work he did with
two distinguished poets and songwriters, Ismail Hassan and Mahjoub Sharif. It
was then that he went beyond the pentatonic musical scale that was prevalent in
Sudan’s
music to open up new horizons for Sudanese music.
There was also Wardi’s love for Egyptian music, which he used to add an
oriental flavor to his works. Soon thereafter, he introduced Nubian tunes and
instruments, such as mandolins, into Sudanese music.
Wardi’s political and artistic commitment was tested in a country that
suffered several political coups. He supported General Ibrahim Abboud’s coup in
1958. However, he then celebrated its downfall in the 1964 “October
revolution.”
Following Jaafar al-Numairi’s coup in 1969, Wardi sang odes in support
of the new regime, when it still had socialist orientations, only to perform
other songs calling for the fall of al-Numairi’s regime in April 1985
revolution.
Wardi left Sudan
in 1989 following the rise of Sudanese President Omar Bashir to power. He spent
13 years in voluntary exile mostly in Cairo,
where he was famous before his arrival.
Wardi left behind a reservoir of
songs that have become part of the Sudanese daily life. Wardi died, but his
fans all along the Nile will continue to sing
his songs for years to come.
1. Mohammed Wardi - Armusal (11:33)
2. Mohammed Wardi - Alnas Algyafa
(8:54)
3. Mohammed Wardi - Amir Alhusen
(6:14)
4. Mohammed Wardi - Ana Arfek Ya
Fouady (3:15)
5. Mohammed Wardi - Ashof Fi Shakhsak
Ahlami (10:10)
6. Mohammed Wardi - Been Wa Bainak Wa
Alayam (6:47)
7. Mohammed Wardi - Ghalta (6:09)
8. Mohammed Wardi - Ma Takhgali
(9:14)
9. Mohammed Wardi - Sodfa (8:51)
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