A cultural concert celebrating the nations and cultures of the world was held in Haarlem, the Netherlands, with Kurdish singer Karwan Hamid Halaq among the performers.
Halaq performed two Kurdish songs at the event, which brought together people from different nations and cultures to celebrate diversity.
“I am very happy to have taken part in this cultural concert in the Netherlands,” Halaq said. “It was a festival aimed at bringing different nations and cultures together and celebrating cultural diversity.”
He said the event gave him an opportunity to present Kurdish culture and identity through music. One of the songs he performed was a work by the late Kurdish artist Shamal Sayib.
“For me, performing this artist’s work was not simply singing. It was a tribute to the heritage and artistic contributions of Kurdish artists whose works are part of the history of Kurdish music,” he said.
His second performance was a song by the late master artist Osman Ali, which he performed with the Art Music Orchestra. Around 10 Dutch and international musicians took part in the performance.
Halaq said performing a Kurdish song alongside an international orchestra was particularly meaningful because it allowed Kurdish music to interact with the music and cultures of other nations.
“It was an opportunity for those present to become familiar with Kurdish art and culture in a different way,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of wearing traditional Kurdish clothing during the concert.
“I believe clothing, song, and music are all part of Kurdish identity,” Halaq said. “When they are presented together at an international concert, they can draw greater attention to Kurdish culture.”
Halaq said his participation was more than an artistic performance. It was also a source of pride that allowed him to present part of Kurdish identity and culture through music, song, and traditional clothing to people from different nations.
He believes art is one of the strongest ways to bring people and cultures closer together.
“Our song does not need a shared language to have an effect. Music can bring people closer regardless of their nationality or culture,” he said.
Halaq said his goal through cultural and artistic activities in the diaspora is to introduce Kurdish song, music, and traditional clothing to the society in which he lives and create more opportunities for Kurdish culture to become known internationally.
Karwan Hamid Halaq, originally from Kirkuk, lives in the Netherlands and has participated in numerous cultural and artistic festivals.
