With the start of the summer season, the music market in Kurdistan heats up, as fine arts students and passionate music lovers turn to these markets to buy instruments and attend music training classes, which also see a seasonal boom.
The cities of Kurdistan have long embraced culture, art, history, poetry, and music. This is reflected in every street and alley—especially in the vibrant music markets. These markets, in addition to offering foreign instruments, serve as cultural hubs where art and artists gather under the umbrella of authentic Kurdish melodies. They also function as schools, helping children become familiar with Kurdish music and its traditions.
Hiwa Ahmad, a recent fine arts graduate in Erbil, told The Kurdish Globe: “In the summer season, students from the music department look for centers and schools that provide structured, scientific music education. Many graduates spend their summers either attending these institutions or launching their own private academies. This has encouraged a large number of music graduates to remain active in the field.”
He added: “Beyond the use of advanced European instruments, there’s also a strong market for traditional Kurdish instruments like the kemanche (joze), saz, def, tanbur, and shimshal. This has played an important role in preserving and protecting Kurdish art.”
Hunar Kamal, a music field expert, also told The Kurdish Globe: “Even with the availability of modern instruments, Kurdish musical instruments still remain popular and widely used—especially because some of Kurdistan’s local TV channels feature cultural programs where guest artists play them. Right now, the music market is thriving. In the past, there were many traditional artists active in these markets, but today, the variety of instruments has expanded. I hope the young people currently working in this sector can help preserve Kurdish culture and keep it alive as a symbol of our art.”
Despite the financial challenges people face, music experts say their work is about creating joy—not being deterred by economic hardships. In parallel, the current government cabinet has given notable importance to the arts sector, and several private art companies have been established to support it.
