AMENÊ ÎZEDÎ

Tehran- Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, women in Iran have been required to wear the hijab and banned from singing solo in public. Despite the ban, women in Rojhelat (Eastern Kurdistan or Iranian Kurdistan) have performed all art forms, especially music. Now, there are many famous musicians and musical groups. The Kamkars, a musical group consisting of women and men from Rojhilate Kurdistan, is one of these groups.

 The group, formed in 1989 as a musical family group, has released more than 20 musical albums. On January 12, the group performed a concert called “Living Fire” in Tehran, after a six-year hiatus. Maryam Ebrahimpour, a vocalist of the group, made a speech at the concert, expressing her wish for an Iran, where all women can sing freely.

At the concert, two poems by Iranian poet Forough Farrokhzad were also sung. The group previously released a musical album called “Agirê Zindî (English: Living Fire)” in the memory of Kurdish musician Ali Merdan.

The group performed at the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony honoring Shirin Ebadi.