‘Ez kevok im’ ...a song in Kurdish that has gone beyond borders
“Ez Kevok im” or “I am a pigeon” is one of the most frequently performed songs of Kurdish. It is widely known in the music community of not only Turkey but also that of the world. Dozens of Kurdish musicians as well as others have so far sung the song.
In March, a video featuring Egyptian musician Hamza Namira and a group of his friends while singing a song in one of the most well-known squares of Ireland quickly spread on digital platforms, especially on YouTube.
In that video, Namira was singing one of the most famous strans, or songs, of Kurdish, namely "Ez Kevok im" or, to put in in English, "I am a pigeon."
Their video also showed that the ones listening to the song in the square as well as the passers-by were trying to sing along or beating time.
The video quickly spread on social media.
One of the most frequently sung Kurdish songs
Since the second half of 1900s, "Ez Kevok im" has been one of the most frequently performed songs of Kurdish. In fact, it was not only sung by Kurdish musicians but also by several others from other countries.
As the song was also played on the Kurdish section of Radio Baghdad, it has made it more popular, especially in the Arabian peninsula.
Performed by several Kurdish bands and musicians such as Aynur Doğan, Kamkaran and Şehram Nazerî on a number of international platforms, the song is now also more popular in the world.
As for the source of this song, or rather, the person known to have sung it for the first time, Hesen Cizrawî, or Hesen Cizîrî, seems to be the source.
Born in the district of Cizre in Turkey's Kurdish majority Şırnak province in 1917, Cizrawî lost his life in Zaho in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. For years, he sang songs for the Kurdish section of Radio Baghdad.
It is sung in different dialects of Kurdish
After Cizrawî, dozens of musicians have performed this song in the Kurmanji, Soranî and Hewramî dialects of Kurdish.
When he first sang this song, Hesen Cizrawî could have not possibly known that this song would become so popular. But after him, several others from different parts of the world, especially Arabic musicians, have sung it. Hamza Namira, the Egyptian musician in Ireland, was an example.
Some of the Kurdish musicians who have sung it so far are Mihemed Arif Cizrawî, Hesen Zîrek, Mamlê, Kamkaran, Dilşad Saîd, Şehram Nazerî and Aynur Doğan among many others.
It was also sung in Turkish
The song "Ez Kevok im" is also known in Turkish. However, like several other Kurdish songs that have come to be sung in Turkish, it has long been known and performed with the name of "Hele yar zalim yar."
"Translated" into Turkish by İ. Celal Güzelses, "Hele yar zalim yar" has been so far performed by several musicians, including Celal Güzelses as well as İbrahim Tatlıses, Zekeriya Ünlü and İzzet Altınmeşe.
"Ez Kevok im" is now orally and instrumentally performed in several different music genres from jazz to pop.
According to music researcher Zeynep Yaş, who has spoken to bianet, the song is possibly not a composition by Hesen Cizrawî, but a folk song.
Yaş says that she has come to this conclusion considering that it is sung in several different dialects of Kurdish and with several variations.
Let's take a look at who have sung the song so far:
bianet Kurdî editörü. Marmara Ünivesitesi Gazetecilik Bölümü mezunu. Aynı okulda ve aynı bölümde yüksek lisans yapıyor. Birgün, Dicle Haber Ajansı (DİHA), Dem Tv, Rûdaw TV...
bianet Kurdî editörü. Marmara Ünivesitesi Gazetecilik Bölümü mezunu. Aynı okulda ve aynı bölümde yüksek lisans yapıyor. Birgün, Dicle Haber Ajansı (DİHA), Dem Tv, Rûdaw TV ve Sputnik Kurdistan’da muhabir, editör, haber müdürü ve şef editör olarak çalıştı. "Haber Analizi ve Arşiv İncelemeleriyle: Türkiye'de 9 Gazete" kitabına katkıda bulundu. "Çîrokên Şêwra Ermenan" (Cervantes Yayınları) ve "Guldesteyek ji Baxê Rewanê" (Sor Yayınları) adlı kitapları bulunuyor. 2023 Musa Anter ve Özgür Basın Şehitleri Gazetecilik Ödülü (Kürtçe haber dalında) sahibi.
Volkan Konak, a prominent folk singer, died after suffering a heart attack on stage during a concert in İskele, Northern Cyprus late yesterday. He was 58.
Konak collapsed while performing and received emergency medical intervention at the scene before being transported to a hospital. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
According to a statement from Gazimağusa State Hospital, emergency services were alerted around 23.23, and a medical team was dispatched to the concert venue. “Initial medical intervention was carried out by doctors present at the scene, followed by the 112 emergency team,” the hospital said.
AA
Konak was intubated and transported to the hospital, where he was admitted as "ex duhul," a clinical term indicating arrival in a non-responsive state. He was immediately moved to the CPR unit.
“A team consisting of an anesthesiologist, emergency physicians, and internal medicine and cardiology specialists provided advanced life support for 25 minutes,” the hospital stated. “Despite all efforts, there was no response, and taking into account the clinical process, CPR was terminated at 00.42 and the artist was declared deceased.”
His body was transferred from Famagusta State Hospital’s morgue to the Forensic Medicine Unit at Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital in Lefkoşa for an autopsy.
Following the autopsy, Konak’s remains are expected to be transported to Turkey by plane.
About Volkan Konak
Volkan Konak was a musician known for his fusion of traditional Turkish folk music with modern elements.
Born in the Yeşilyurt village of Maçka, Trabzon Province, Konak completed his primary and secondary education locally. In 1983, he enrolled at Istanbul Technical University's Turkish Music State Conservatory, graduating in 1988. He then pursued a master's degree in social sciences, focusing on folk music, at the same institution.
Konak's musical journey began in 1987 with his debut album, "Suların Horon Yeri," featuring compilations of regional folk songs. He gained widespread acclaim with subsequent albums, including "Efulim" (1993), "Gelir misin Benimle?" (1994), and "Volkanik Parçalar" (1996). In 1998, he established his own production company, Kuzey Müzik Prodüksiyon, releasing the album "Pedaliza."
His 2006 album "Mora" achieved significant success, earning a gold certification from MÜ-YAP, the Turkish Phonographic Industry Society. Konak was affectionately known as "Kuzeyin Oğlu" (Son of the North), a testament to his deep connection to the Black Sea region.
On the night of Mar 30, 2025, while performing in İskele, Northern Cyprus, Konak collapsed on stage due to a heart attack. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on Mar 31 at the age of 58.
Today marks the first day of Eid al-Fitr for Muslims around the world.
Celebrated at the end of the holy month of Ramadan each year, Eid al-Fitr is a time for visiting family and friends, with sweets and desserts traditionally offered to guests. In Turkey, the holiday is also commonly referred to as the "Sugar Feast" (Şeker Bayramı) due to this custom.
This year, the government extended the public holiday by declaring Wednesday through Friday as official days off, in addition to the first two days of the week. The decision created a nine-day holiday period, prompting many people to travel to their hometowns.
Meanwhile, 301 people, mostly students and activists, who were detained or arrested during protests that erupted after the detention of İstanbul's mayor will spend the holiday behind bars. (VK)
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