[5] ibn Al Badiya started his career when he was still a teenager but did not make a public appearance until 1959 due to his conservative family's reaction.

[7] However, his father recognised his voice on the radio and forced him (or he chose[8]) to change his name so as not to bring shame to the family name, el-Jayli, a well-known Sofi leader.

[9] ibn Al Badiya teamed up with poet Mohamed Yousif Mousa and Abu Amna Hamid to produce some of his best songs.

[15][16] According to Riek Machar, SPLA had plans to attack a steamer on the White Nile, but when they found out that Salah was on board, they abandoned the idea out of love for the artist.

[17] ibn Al Badiya then moved to the cinema, with his first role being in the movie adaption of Tajouje in 1977,[18] Toar Aljar in Germany, and followed by Eyes Journey (1983).