CULTURE

Latest News

• Rojava Film Commune awarded 2020 AFIELD Fellowship 

  The 2020 AFIELD Fellowship was awarded to Rojava Film Commune.
• Poems for Hard Times, by Sinn Féin former leader Gerry Adams 

  Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has published a poetry book entitled Poems for Hard Times.
• Thousands of years of history will be submerged in Amed 

  After flooding the 12,000-year-old ancient city Hasankeyf with the highly controversial Ilisu dam project, the Turkish state insists on damaging cultural heritage in North Kurdistan.
• The epic victory of Kobanê published in a book 

  The epic resistance of YPG and YPJ forces against ISIS gangs in Kobanê was published in a book titled "Kobanê Resistance Diary". The book written by Sefkan Kobanê, one of the commanders of the resistance, sheds light on how victory was achieved.
• Composer Felix: Artists have responsibility towards social issues 

  Mexican-American composer Nathan Felix has released a chamber opera titled Öcalan, inspired by the Kurdish leader.
• Elementary school in Rojava wins painting competition in Germany 

  An elementary school in Amûdê, Northeast Syria, has won the painting competition of the Essen Advent calendar.
• Kurdish writer sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison 

  Kurdish writer Gulgeş Deryaspî who was detained in operation in Bitlis one and a half years ago, has been sentenced to a prison term of 6 years and 3 months.
• "We paid a great price for education in mother tongue" 

  As the Kurds were banned from speaking in their mother tongue for years due to the Ottoman occupation and the persecution of the Baath regime, Rojava people say the achievement made in education in mother tongue, for which a great price was paid.
• Woman in Edirne killed by the man she was divorcing  

  Mehmet Emin Karaaslan murdered Nilay Karaaslan in Edirne while in the process of divorce.
• Candemir: I write about the 60s and 90s with humour 

  Candemir's first book consists of 17 stories. The journalist tells with humor about the pain suffered by Kurds in Turkey.
• Online courses of Hewramî and Kelhûrî 

  The Istanbul Association for Kurdish Studies will be offering courses online in the Kurdish languages ​​Hewramî and Kelhûrî.
• 43 artists perform song to mark PKK 42nd anniversary 

  A special song was rearranged and performed to mark the 42nd anniversary of the PKK. The song, whose lyrics and music are penned by Hozan Emekçi, is performed by 43 Kurdish artists.
• Kurdish cinema at Naples Human Rights Film Festival 

  The 12th Edition of the Naples Human Rights Film Festival is underway in the Italian city of Naples.
• Artist Zehra Doğan wins Carol Rama Prize 

  Kurdish artist Zehra Doğan has been awarded the Carol Rama Prize by the Artissima art fair. With this, the jury honored Doğan's interpretation of the “ideal of unconventional female creativity and artistic freedom”.
• Author Nezir Çakan jailed in Kobanê trial 

  Book author Nezir Çakan has been arrested in Ankara. The chairman of the Kurdish writers' association "Komeleya Wêjekarên Kurd" is accused of participating in the Kobanê protests in the fall of 2014.
• Artists in Istanbul protest Covid measures and lack of proposals 

  Protesting the restrictions on art activities and events imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic, artists in Istanbul held a silent protest in Mis Street, in Taksim.
• Flutist Nergiz claims women's role in art throughout history 

  Side-blown flutist Irem Nergiz said that women have been a part of art throughout history and added: "Women have been a source of inspiration for art for centuries.”
• Ali Elias Nasir elected new spiritual leader of the Yazidis 

  The "High Council of Yazidis" has appointed Ali Elias Nasir as the new spiritual leader of the Yazidi community. The 41-year-old thus succeeds Bavê Şêx Xurto Hecî Îsmaîl, who died in October.
• Play by Dario Fo banned in Urfa 

  After Istanbul, the Kurdish interpretation of the play "Mockery of Fear" by Dario Fo has also been banned in Urfa.
• PKK Cultural Committee appeals to artists 

  The Cultural Committee of PKK calls on artists to fight together against the threatening occupation of Southern Kurdistan by Turkey and appeals to the KDP to give up collaboration with the occupiers.
• New York Kurdish Film Festival online until Sunday 

  The fourth edition of the Kurdish Film and Cultural Festival of New York had its opening on Friday. It is an online edition due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Şerzan Kurt Story Competition Awards announced 

  The results of the Şerzan Kurt Story Award Competition have been announced.
• Guerrillas release new song for Cenga Heftanin 

  Fighters from the female guerilla force YJA-Star has released a new music video. The clip shows beautiful scenes from the resistance against the Turkish occupation in the Heftanin.
• Murat Demir: I am a servant to Kurdish music 

  Musician Murat Demir sings Kurdish tunes that are about to be forgotten. He does so to counter cultural assimilation and describes himself as a 'servant' to Kurdish music.
• Kurdish filmmaker gets prison sentence for documentary on Rojava 

  Kurdish filmmaker Kutbettin Cebe has been sentenced to over 2 years in prison for "terrorist propaganda" on the basis of his documentary "Roza - The Land of Two Rivers" about the Rojava revolution.