Songs
The songs every Kurdish gathering knows, and the stories behind them. Lyrics and translations are added only after editorial verification and a rights check; context comes first.
Ey Reqîb
The Kurdish national anthem, written by the poet Dildar in 1938.
Folk songŞemmamê
One of the most widely known Kurdish folk songs.
Govend (dance) songDelîlo
The best-known Kurdish circle-dance song and step.
Folk dance songLorke
A driving dance song of the Serhed tradition.
Stran (song)Narîm Narîm
A tender stran that found a massive new audience online.
Stran (song)Çavreşamîn
A beloved song to dark eyes, revived by modern versions.
Stran (song)Oy Yarê
A cry to the beloved that every Kurdish gathering knows.
Stran (song)Ay Dîlberê
A classic of longing, inseparable from Aram Tigran’s voice.
Folk songAx Eman
The sigh that became a song: a staple of the folk repertoire.
Anthem of identityKîne Em
Şivan Perwer’s great question: who are we?
MarchHerne Pêş
Şivan Perwer’s marching call: forward.
LamentMegrî Megrî
Do not cry: Şivan Perwer’s most tender consolation.
Anthem for Kurdish womenKeçê Kurdan
Aynur’s 2004 song that became an anthem for Kurdish women.
Kilam / stranEz Kevok im
I am a dove: a beloved image of the lyric tradition.
Kilam / stranBerîvanê
The song of the milkmaid, sung across the pastures of Kurdistan.
Stran (song)Canê Canê
A joyful address to the dearest one, famous in Şivan Perwer’s version.
Folk songDîlo Dîlo
A refrain of the heart that lives in many songs.
Folk songLo Berde
Let go: the plea that became one of the best-loved folk songs.
Kilam / stranEsmerê
The dark-haired beauty of countless kilams.
Epic (destan)Siyabend û Xecê
The great love epic of Mount Sîpan, sung for centuries.
KilamKewê
The partridge-beloved of the dengbêj repertoire.
Epic (destan)Memê Alan
The oral epic behind Mem û Zîn: the national love story.