Interview with Kurdish rapper Siwan Erdal

Kurdish hip hop music is one of the few kinds of hip hop that I really enjoy and appreciate. I can always be sure that the rappers are passionate and are resorting to music for the sake of a noble cause, not merely to entertain. Previously I interviewed the Palestinian hip hop stars Anger Boys for similar reasons.

This month I’m interviewing Kurdish rapper Siwan Erdal, who despite his young age (19) is immensely talented. He began creating his music in order to increase more awareness about Kurdish issues around the world and hopes to contribute a lot to the Kurdish population, and I personally think he’s really doing his part (personally I am inspired by him to do more for the Kurdish minority.)

This interview was conducted originally in German and later translated into English by the wonderful Simon Columbus.

What inspired you to create a band?

My brother KU Ciz began rapping in German. I told him he should do it in his mother tongue as well, but he used to say he gets along better in German. Then I decided to rap in Kurdish myself. I also do much together with my brother KU Ciz. We both only rap since 2007, that means we started one year ago.

Do you think music is an influential way to communicate with others, especially about political and social issues? If so, why?

Yes, I absolutely believe this, if it wasn’t I wouldn’t play any music. With my music I want to draw the people’s attention to some topic, for instance the Kurds’ problems, the poverty, wars… Via music one can reach plenty more people then usually. That makes me happy over and over again when I hear that people from different countries listen to my music, that would be very hard without music. Music is also an influential method to communicate with others, because there are much more motion and much more emotions in it, that goes down well with the audience. That way much more people listen.

What are your songs usually about?

My songs mostly deal with the Kurdish struggle for freedom, with peace, with justice, the brotherhood of nations, the living together, the togetherness… In my songs I protest against wars, against injustice, against faschism, racism and extremism. But in future I also want to publish songs about other topics, for instance love.

What do you hope to achieve with your music, do you think it is an effective way to spread awareness about the Kurdish cause?

I try to bring together with my music people who support peace. With my Music I advertise for a political and peaceful solution of the Kurds’ problem. I’m absolutely sure my music is a good means to do so.

Does the Kurdish issue receive a lot of attention in Europe, where there are several Kurdish minorities? Do people write about it in the media, or are they forgotten like they are in the Middle East?
Unfortunately there is but few coverage of the Kurds in Europe, too. The media does rarely report on the Kurdish issue. The Kurds draw attention on themselves with demonstrations in Europe time and again, tenthousands of Kurds come together and call for a peaceful solution of the Kurds’ problem, but in the media they are barely mentioned. But wenn negative things happen, like for instance the kidnapping of the three German mountaineers by the PKK, it is reported about the Kurds. But when tenthousands of Kurds rally peacefully, it is not reported. That’s too bad because the Kurds are a nation who are demandeding peace and dialog since decades. But like the occupying powers of Kurdistan Europe too plays the “three monkeys” and doesn’t speak up for a peaceful solution of the Kurds’ problem. It’s really too bad…

Do you feel that Kurds around the world are united?

With the oppression of the Kurds their community spirit too has increased. In the past the community of the Kurds around the world wasn’t that great, but after the Kurds had to witness the oppression of their compatriots day after day their community und their unity has grown with it. The Kurds demand a peaceful and free life in equality.

What inspires you to continue your music about Kurdistan, do you think it makes a difference?

I’m inspired by the support I get from my people. They feel better due to my music and they tell me I was expressing exactly what they feel. These words give me power so that I will continue creating songs about my oppressed people, about Kurdistan, about the peace and the brotherhood of nations. I believe that my music makes a difference because many musicians don’t talk about the important issues but only think of their profits and the money. Even if I wouldn’t earn a single cent I would continue playing my music, for me it’s not about the money but about the solutions of problems and about the well-being of the people. Those who know my songs know what I’m talking about.

Your music is very professional, do you perform in concerts, is this your job or your hobby?

Yes, now and then I perform at Kurdish events together with my brother KU Ciz. So far I do my music as a hobby, but maybe in future it can become a job. I haven’t come to a certain decision on this yet.

What is your advice to young Kurdish musicians around the world, especially the ones in the Middle East who are discriminated against and are not allowed to practice their culture? As you know in countries like Turkey, Iran, and Syria, young Kurds often get arrested simply for speaking their language. So what is your advice to them?

My advice to my compatriots in at home would be to act much more together and to behave in a more organized fashion. Because we Kurds now how hard it is to play music or also to do other things in our mother tongue in our home country. Also I would wish that all we people of the world should stand together against wars, against oppression, against injustice, against torture… If we people of this world would stand together against these, I think nobody could maintain his politic of oppression. But unfortunately we still lack the unity of all people who defend a free and peaceful togetherness. Only through the bond of the people and the humanity one can defeat racism, faschism and extremism. There I hope for the support of all people who demand world peace.

Media:

Siwan Erdal and his brother Ku Ciz, “It’s enough:”

Kurdish Youth Festival, July 2008 - Part 1:

Kurdish Youth Festival, July 2008 - Part 2:

I have also attached a sample of the most recent song by him (and currently, my favorite one.)

I would like to thank Siwan Erdal for this interview and I encourage you all to visit his site, where there are many free MP3 and video downloads, or his profile on MySpace.