Abdulqadir Wasman Hama Gul, fondly known as Ali Mardan, was born in 1904 in the historic city of Kirkuk. His early education took root in Takya, where under the tutelage of Mamoste Salih, he immersed himself in the Tajweed of the Quran, alongside learning Kurdish Maqams and Turkmen Qur’an with Mullah Rauf. After eight years, his journey took him and his family to the Laylan district.
Ali Mardan’s belief in the richness of Kurdish Maqamat as a vital cultural heritage was reflected in his work. “Kurdish Maqamat is a rich Kurdish source for the art of music and song of the peoples of the region,” he often stated. His exceptional voice and proficiency in playing multiple musical instruments, especially the oud, set him apart. Fluent in Turkmen, Arabic, Persian, and Kurdish, he adeptly recited poetry in numerous verses and maqams.
Throughout his life, Ali Mardan recorded an impressive array of original songs and maqams, performed in various languages. His mastery earned him reverence among Iraqi Maqam instructors, who regarded him as both a leader and a teacher. A proud Kurd, Mardan’s unyielding sense of identity permeated his music.
Some of his most recognized maqams and songs include “Leber Chawi Bad” (Maqami Mahur), “Chand Jarm Wt” (Maqami Hamayun), “Ba Yadm Ka Faryadm Ke” (Maqami Hijran), “Shirin Kalama,” “Gyana Basyate,” and “Katan Katana.”
Ali Mardan’s contributions extended beyond performance. He founded a school dedicated to Kurdish Maqamat and was the first Kurdish singer to grace Baghdad Radio. His establishment of the Kurdish Radio in Baghdad played a crucial role in shaping the careers of many artists, including Arabs and Jews. His influence spanned borders, with artists from Turkey, Iran, and Kurdistan performing his compositions.
It was on a Baghdad radio station that Ali Mardan first performed “Bajalan,” an offshoot of the Bayat maqam. During this era, a distinguished family of Kurdish musicians, including Tahir Tofiq, Rasoul Gardi, Hassan Jaziri, Bakuri, Nasrin Sherwan, and Mohammed Arif Jazrawi, collaborated on the Kurdish section of Radio Baghdad.
Ali Mardan, a luminary in the realm of Kurdish music, passed away in Baghdad on July 24, 1981. His final resting place is in the Sheikh Mohidin Cemetery in Kirkuk, where his legacy continues to resonate with the melodies of his heritage.