Mihemed Sexo

Mihemed Şêxo was one of the most important Kurdish folk singers. With his sentimental, traditional and often political lyrics he created great Kurdish music like few before him. His work is still well-known and listened to today. He was born in 1948 in Qamişlo, a city in Syria's northern region which is called Western Kurdistan by Kurds. He was from a poor family and had to work in agriculture. He could not complete his education due to financial problems, but he developed a passion for music and learned to play the tembûr, a Kurdish stringed instrument. He admired Kurdish-Armenian singer Aram Tigran and sang at weddings and other occasions. He emigrated to Lebanon in 1969 and studied music there. He mainly sang in Kurdish and expressed his patriotic stance. He faced political reprisals from the Syrian Baath government for his songs and had to flee to Iraq and Iran at different times. He also became acquainted with Persian and Arabic music and languages. He married a Kurdish woman and had children, but their names are not known. He died in 1989 in Qamişlo, but the cause of his death is not clear. He left behind many songs and albums that are still popular among Kurds and other people who appreciate his art and message.