Fifth festival celebrates the legacy of the renowned Kurdish maqam singer
The city of Sanandaj held its fifth music festival honoring the renowned Kurdish singer and maqam master Sayed Ali Asghar Kurdistani, bringing together musicians, music scholars, students and Kurdish art enthusiasts.
The event was organized by the Culture, Social Affairs and Sports Department of Sanandaj Municipality as part of the city’s cultural activities and its status as a UNESCO Creative City of Music. The festival was held at the Children’s Park in Sanandaj, with about 300 musicians and music students, aged four and above, taking part.
More than 1,500 people attended the event, reflecting the strong public interest in Kurdish music and cultural programs.
Farshid Salawati, head of the Culture, Social Affairs and Sports Department of Sanandaj Municipality, said the large turnout demonstrated the city’s strong cultural and artistic potential.
“This turnout reflects the high capacity of music, culture and art in Sanandaj and shows citizens’ interest and enthusiasm for cultural and artistic programs,” Salawati said.
He added that continuing programs that honor major figures in music, highlight Sanandaj’s cultural capabilities and support the city’s commitments as a UNESCO Creative City of Music would remain among the priorities of the Sanandaj Municipal Cultural Centre.
Sayed Ali Asghar Kurdistani was born in 1882 in the village of Salwatawa near Sanandaj and died on February 4, 1937, at the age of 55.
He is regarded as one of the pioneers and masters of Kurdish maqam music. His repertoire drew extensively on the poetry of prominent Kurdish poets, including Mawlawi and Wafai, helping preserve and promote Kurdish musical and literary traditions.
The annual festival has become an opportunity for younger generations of musicians and students to learn about his legacy while celebrating Kurdish musical heritage.
Sanandaj was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Music on October 30, 2019, recognizing its longstanding musical traditions and cultural activities.