The voice of love

Nineteen years on, Marziya Fariqi’s legacy endures as a voice of Kurdish women’s music

2024-09-18 | 13:32

NEWSROOM — Nineteen years have passed since the death of Marziya Fariqi, a celebrated Kurdish singer who is remembered as a powerful symbol of Kurdish women’s music. Known for her voice that touched on themes of love, struggle, and Kurdish nationalism, her legacy continues to resonate throughout Kurdistan.

Born Marziya Shahab Abdullah on May 22, 1958, in Mariwan, Iran, Fariqi grew up with a passion for music and theater. She actively participated in school festivals and plays. After completing her secondary education in Mariwan, she moved to Sanandaj to continue her studies and earned a diploma, later becoming a teacher.

Fariqi initially sang in Persian but eventually shifted her focus to Kurdish music, which became her defining artistic contribution. Her songs, often dealing with the Kurdish struggle and themes of homeland, made her a beloved figure among Kurds.

In the 1980s, as pressure increased on the Kurdish regions of Iran, Fariqi took refuge in the mountains of Kurdistan, joining the Peshmerga resistance alongside her husband, Nasser Razazi, another prominent Kurdish singer. During this time, Fariqi’s music became intertwined with her activism, and she used her voice to support the Kurdish cause both artistically and politically.

Fariqi was the first Kurdish woman to record an anthem for the Peshmerga, with one of her most famous songs being “Salawî germî dilî pirr umêdî mat pêşkêş ey hevalî Peshmerga” (“Warm Greetings from a Heart Full of Hope, Fellow Peshmerga”). She went on to release several Kurdish albums and songs that remain celebrated in the Kurdish community.

Fariqi passed away on September 18, 2005, in Stockholm, Sweden, after battling illness. In accordance with her final wishes, her body was transported back to Kurdistan and buried in the Seywan Cemetery in Sulaymaniyah.

Her deep, soulful voice and her dedication to her people’s struggle have left a lasting impact on Kurdish music and culture. To this day, her songs, infused with themes of love, freedom, and homeland, continue to inspire new generations, keeping her legacy alive across Kurdistan.