Renowned singer memorialized
Monument of Kurdish artist Fuad Ahmad to be unveiled near Erbil Citadel.
ERBIL — A statue honoring renowned Kurdish artist Fuad Ahmad is set to be unveiled near the historic Erbil Citadel, following a request from the Kurdistan Artists and Literature Union’s Erbil branch. The statue has been completed and handed over to the Erbil Governorate for final placement.
Omar Jamil, the sculptor behind the project, told 964media, “The monument is in its final stages. The molding process is complete, and the statue is now being coated with fiberglass for durability.” He added that the statue, standing at three meters tall, was designed to celebrate the artist’s contributions and will soon be installed near the iconic Erbil Citadel.
Jamil, who has crafted ten other statues of prominent Kurdish figures, shared details of his notable works, which include statues of poet Ahmad Dilzar, Mawlawi, historian Dr. Kamal Mazhari, and Dr. Mustafa Zalmi, among others.
Currently, Jamil is working on another major project—a 10-meter-tall monument dedicated to the Peshmerga in Sulaymaniyah. “This project was commissioned by the Union of Veteran Peshmerga and will be installed at the summit of Hawari Mountain in Sulaymaniyah,” he said.
Fuad Ahmad, whose full name is Fuad Ahmad Sleman, was born in 1932 in the village of Awena near the Goir in Erbil.
Ahmad’s musical career began in 1955 when he visited Baghdad Radio Station and recorded his first song, “Newroz.” His works quickly gained recognition, and by 1959 he had recorded notable songs such as “Amirakam” and “Namakat Geisht.” In 1963, he performed his first televised song, “Ey Buki Taza,” and went on to record approximately 100 songs at radio stations and 50 for television. His music reflected the spirit and culture of Kurdish society, earning him a revered place in the region’s artistic history.
After decades of enriching Kurdish music and culture, Fuad Ahmad passed away on Aug. 17, 2004. He was laid to rest five days later, following a grand funeral ceremony in Erbil.