Sharhabil Ahmed

Sharhabil Ahmed is often celebrated as the "King of Sudanese Jazz," a unique and pioneering figure in Sudan’s music scene. Born in 1935, he blended traditional Sudanese rhythms with Western genres like jazz, rock ’n’ roll, funk, and highlife to create a lively and infectious sound that stood out across the African continent in the 1960s and 1970s. His mastery of the electric guitar and energetic performances earned him widespread acclaim, helping lay the foundation for a distinct style of Sudanese pop.

Though his music was loved locally for decades, Sharhabil Ahmed gained a new wave of international recognition when the Berlin-based label Habibi Funk spotlighted his work with the 2020 release The King Of Sudanese Jazz (Habibi Funk 013). This compilation introduced a global audience to his vibrant soundscapes and solidified his legacy as a trailblazer in Sudan’s modern music history.