Voice of Women is bringing the oral history of Kurdish women to the forefront through a two-day festival at Cafe OTO in London as part of the Archive within the Space 21 international festival.
The event, titled “Voice of Women: Archive of Kurdish Voice and Other Horizons,” explores the cultural significance of Kurdish women’s voices, songs, and oral traditions, highlighting their role in preserving the history and identity of communities across Kurdistan.
Kurdish musician and artist Hardi Kurda described the festival as an important initiative to safeguard one of the richest dimensions of Kurdish cultural heritage. He said the programme focuses on historical audio recordings that preserve the memories and experiences of Kurdish women while creating opportunities for new generations to engage with this legacy.
The festival features panel discussions bringing together researchers, archivists, and artists to examine the importance of documenting oral history. It also includes exhibitions of rare photographs, documents, and audio recordings, alongside contemporary performances that combine archival material with modern musical expression.
According to Kurda, the festival aims to transform archival collections into a living cultural resource by connecting the memories of the past with today’s audiences. Through dialogue, artistic practice, and historical preservation, organisers hope to strengthen awareness of Kurdish women’s contributions to cultural history and encourage further research into their oral traditions.
The initiative also seeks to ensure that Kurdish women remain the primary storytellers of their own experiences, preserving voices that reflect identity, resilience, hope, and struggle while introducing them to wider international audiences through contemporary artistic expression.
The two-day festival underscores the growing role of archives and the arts in safeguarding Kurdish cultural heritage and ensuring that the voices of Kurdish women continue to be heard by future generations.
