This workshop, prepared by singer and ethnomusicologist Serdar Canan and collector and researcher Zeynep Yaş, will consist of two parts. In the first part, a panoramic presentation on the historical background and development of Kurdish music will be given, featuring examples of female voices specifically from the 19th century onwards. In this section, the terminology of Kurdish music will also be introduced, and the history of this music will be shared with the participants. The aim here is to examine Kurdish music by emphasizing the importance of not only male dengbêjs and transmitters but also female dengbêjs and transmitters as sources, clearly highlighting the equality and partnership of Kurdish women.
In the second part, the focus will be particularly on the policies of the Republic of Turkey, addressing how colonialism and the state's influence on the Kurdish language and music have persisted to the present day. This section will also touch upon other regions of the Kurdistan geography from a broader perspective, discussing how Kurds recognize one another through music, the obstacles they encounter, and how these obstacles are overcome through various examples. The role and mission of radio stations such as Yerevan and Baghdad will be discussed in detail.
The most concrete result of this workshop is to determine a roadmap together with the participants on how we can identify the injustices that female singers have been subjected to until today and prevent their recurrence, while also exploring how we can create common resources for the permanent legacy of Kurdish music to continue.
Language: Kurdish
Participation: Although this workshop is open to everyone, the participation of musicians, singers, and researchers working in the field of music, especially women musicians, singers, and researchers, is very important.
Capacity: 30 people