He was assassinated in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, becoming the 18th media figure killed in the country in 2012.
[2] Awale was one of the founding members of the Onkod police band,[2][3] and was a prominent personality on the Somali art scene for over three decades.
[3] Additionally, Awale wrote and performed in various socially themed radio plays, where he charged the Al-Shabaab insurgent group of leading people astray under the guise of Islam.
[3] On 29 October 2012, Awale was assassinated by two unidentified gunmen as he was heading home in the capital.
[2] The National Union of Somali Journalists indicated that prior to his assassination, Awale had been subjected to death threats on account of his artistic pieces urging residents to join the police.