The eternal voice of Kurdish music

Soran hosts concert honoring the legendary Kurdish artist Hasan Zirak

2024-08-29 | 14:03

SORAN — The Directorate of Culture and Art in Soran Autonomous Administration, located in northern Erbil, organized a special concert dedicated to the songs and melodies of the late Kurdish artist Hasan Zirak. The event took place on Wednesday evening at the city’s Cultural Hall.

Hasan Zirak, born in 1921 in the Kurdish city of Bukan, Iran, rose from impoverished beginnings to become a towering figure in Kurdish music. Orphaned at a young age, he discovered his musical talent at 13, which quickly brought him into the spotlight of Kurdish music.

The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Culture announced on its Facebook page that “10 songs of Hasan Zirak were performed by well-known pop singers Ihsan Zirak and Jergis Chomani.” The performance featured some of Zirak’s most iconic songs, including “Le Silay Qabran (Beside the Graves),” “Khom Ba Khulami (When I am Your Servant),” “Nuri Rokhsarat (The Light of Your Face),” and “Shawi Qadra (The Night of Laylat al-Qadr).”

Zirak’s music is deeply rooted in the themes of Kurdish nature, the beauty of women, love, and social life. Unlike many Kurdish singers known for their melancholic and sorrowful melodies, Zirak’s songs often convey joy and celebration, making them popular at national events and social gatherings. His focus on physical and worldly love, as opposed to the purely spiritual themes common in mystical heritage, has led some to regard Hasan Zirak as the first and greatest erotic singer in Kurdish music.

Celebrated for his resonant voice and dedication to Kurdish culture, Zirak left an indelible mark on the Kurdish music scene. However, his life was also marked by persecution from both Iranian and Iraqi intelligence agencies, forcing him to relocate frequently and endure severe hardships. Zirak passed away prematurely in June 1972 at the age of 51, with his widow, Rabia Khanum, alleging foul play.

Renowned Kurdish artist Ali Mardan, who passed away in 1981, expressed profound admiration for Zirak, saying, “When Hasan Zirak passed away, I felt I had lost the strength to sing. I did not want to continue in the field of art. It was not just me; the entire Kurdish community was in mourning.”

Despite being illiterate, Zirak composed hundreds of high-quality songs, poems, and melodies throughout his life. His work continues to resonate with millions of Kurds across various regions of Kurdistan, earning him the enduring title of “the eternal voice” in Kurdish music and culture.