Şivan Perwer

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Şivan Perwer giving concert in Sweden, 2005

Şivan Perwer (pron: Shivân Parwar) (born on September 23, 1955^[1] in Sarıdam (Sorî), Siverek as İsmail Aygün) is a Kurdish poet, writer, musical teacher, singer, and performer on the tembûr (lute). He is a leading Kurdish artist and is considered by many Kurds as the greatest Kurdish musician of all time. He captivates audiences not only by his charismatic and controversial personality, but above all his powerful, highly emotional voice and the hypnotic rhythm of his music. Şivan currently lives in exile after fleeing Turkey in 1976 because of his music.^[2] He holds several honorary doctorates in music.^[3]

1 Short biography
2 Voice of Kurdistan
3 Discography
4 External links
- 4.1 References

[edit] Short biography

For many years, his songs – even those about love – were banned in Iraq, Iran and Turkey because they are sung in Kurdish and often cite the oppression against the Kurdish people in the Middle East[1]. Cassettes of his music were passed along from hand to hand, despite the risk of imprisonment or even death. Even today only his traditional love songs are permitted in Turkey.

Şivan became famous during the period of Kurdish protests against Iraqi rule at Ankara University in 1972. His homemade recordings were smuggled over the border, while thousands of people came to see him perform live, having found in his music an essential expression of the Kurdish mentality. Fearing for his life and the welfare of his family and after calls from Turkish authorities demanding his arrest, he fled Turkey and settled in Germany in 1976. There, Şivan recorded his first official album of traditional Kurdish songs.

In 1991, Şivan appeared at the "Simple Truth" Live aid concert, performing alongside Peter Gabriel, Sting, Paul Simon, Tom Jones, Gipsy Kings as well as other international artists. The proceeds from the concert went to the aid of Kurdish refugees in the Iraqi Kurdistan fleeing the Gulf War and was considered as one of the most important humanitarian efforts for the region.

In 2004, Şivan took an initiative for the improvement of culture in society by establishing the Sivan Perwer International Cultural Foundation in Frankfurt, Germany.

On Tuesday March 21, 2006, Şivan was featured on PRI's The World in their Global Hits segment.

Thus far, Şivan Perwer has over twenty-five albums, music videos and documentaries. He has written several books and several other publications as well. Şivan has a career expanding over thirty years and has received many honorary Doctorates and International World music prizes.

[edit] Voice of Kurdistan

Şivan's music has many unique qualities that has considered him by many to be one of the greatest Kurdish musicians of his time. Aside from his great voice and performances on the tembûr, his brilliant instrumental arrangements, his highly expressive melodies and his innovative style have opened new horizons for Kurdish music and given it an international reach.

Many Kurds have given Şivan the title of the Voice of Kurdistan and consider his music an important element of the Kurdish struggle. In addition to Şivan's influential songs about the Kurdish struggle in the Middle East, he is a one of the foremost Kurdish dengbej, or bards. Dengbej is a form of singing that often tells stories. Hundreds of Kurdish dengbej songs are considered to be one of the key elements in preserving the Kurdish culture and history.^[4]

Şivan writes the lyrics for many of his songs. However, he has also composed music and sung many songs using the poetry of the late Kurdish poet, Cigerxwîn. The poet, Cigerxwîn, was well-known for his poetry about the Kurdish struggle and also about Kurdish culture and history. At one time, Cigerxwîn referred to Şivan as "the Voice of his poetry".

[edit] Discography

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