Mohamed Shahied Wagid Hosain (9 January 1962 – 21 March 2021) was a Surinamese singer and musician. He was best known for covering Bollywood songs originally performed by Mohammed Rafi.
Early Life
Hosain was born in Magenta, Koewarasan, Suriname on 9 January 1962. When he was 10 years old, his family moved to Utrecht in the Netherlands, and two years later to The Hague. Many members of his family were musicians: his father Josief and uncle Poeti would sing Bollywood songs and Baithak Gana.
Career
In 1977, his uncle Hafizkhan formed a band called Mastana with six other musicians, including four from the Wagid Hosain family. Hafizkhan recruited Hosain as a drummer, despite Hosain having no prior experience. After intensive practice, he developed his own improvisational drum patterns. Mastana performed instrumental covers of Bollywood songs, particularly those sung by Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, Talat Mahmood, and Kishore Kumar. Hosain's first opportunities to sing came after the band's regular program, where he would perform famous Rafi songs such as "Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki," "Chaudhvin Ka Chand," and "Mujhe Pyar Ki Zindagi Denewale."
In 1984, Mastana undertook a seven-performance tour of Suriname organized by impresario Dinesh Malhoe, with all concerts sold out. In 1986, Mastana toured Suriname again, accompanied by Saeed Rafi, one of Mohammed Rafi's sons, who was impressed by Hosain's performance.
After returning to the Netherlands, Hosain continued drumming with Mastana but later substituted for a singer with the band Indian Diamonds. The band's leader Hans Jagbandhan invited him to join. In 1986, Hosain released a CD single featuring his most well-known Rafi cover, "Oh my love" (from the film Night in London), with "Ek bechara" (from the film Waris) as the B-side.
Hosain considered his time with Indian Diamonds (1986–1995) the peak of his career, during which they recorded many records and CDs popular throughout the Netherlands, Suriname, and the Dutch Caribbean. After a hiatus in 1995, he returned in 1999 as lead singer of Diamonds 2000, joined Sound Tronics in 2002, and later became a solo artist. His last major show in Suriname was in 2012 at the Anthony Nesty Indoor Stadium, and his final performance in the Netherlands was at the Theater Regentes in The Hague on 2 February 2020.
Death
Hosain was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. He announced in February 2021 that his cancer was terminal, and died in The Hague, Netherlands, on 21 March 2021 at the age of 59. His Janazah (Islamic funeral prayer) was performed on 23 March 2021.
Honours
On 9 March 2021, Hosain was named a Knight of the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star by the President of Suriname. His wife Barsatie accepted the decoration on his behalf from the Surinamese ambassador to the Netherlands.
