Variations in Kurdish Music: Genocide as an example

Abstract

This research explores the role of music in expressing the suffering of the Kurdish people due to the genocide they have faced throughout history, particularly during the Anfal operations of the 1980s, which led to the destruction of hundreds of Kurdish villages and the extermination of the Kurdish population in various ways. This includes the confinement of tens of thousands of its residents in detention centers overseen by the Iraqi army. The genocide did not cease there; it manifested in other forms and locations, including the massacre of the Yazidis in Shingal in 2014. Its effects have mirrored the realities of society, becoming a subject of concern for all segments of the cultural and artistic community. This has led specialists in the field of musical composition to examine and utilize it as a means of expressing collective pain, focusing on emotional and psychological content as a style in musical compositions, with themes that reflect this reality. The current research is focused on: " Variations in Kurdish music: Genocide as an example." The researchers have selected a musical composition for analysis, specifically pertaining to Kurdish music created after these events. This aims to understand how these experiences have been documented and how these works reflect the resilience of the Kurdish people and their culture in the face of genocide, the effects of which continue to be felt by individuals across Kurdistan. This music serves as a historical and social testament within international law. The musical composition acts as a tribute to those who were wrongfully lost, ensuring their memories remain prominent throughout history.