Kurdish folk songs and the atmosphere of the revolution in Kurdistan during his childhood years shaped the early beginnings of poet Kawa Derik, a native of Jilou village in the Derik area, born in 1971. His fascination with Kurdish songs and the revolution developed into a literary journey spanning decades, during which he wrote hundreds of poems documenting the sacrifices of martyrs, the suffering of peoples and national causes.
The influence of Kurdish songs and the revolution in his early years
Kawa Derik said he grew up with a love for his homeland and Kurdistan, noting that the Northern Kurdistan Revolution had a significant impact on the people of the region. He added that the Rojava Revolution and all Kurdish revolutions left a deep mark on his intellectual and cultural formation.
He said that from childhood, he listened to Yerevan Radio and was particularly influenced by Kurdish folk songs, which he constantly repeated, especially songs by artist Mohammed Sheikh and the Berxwedan group. At the time, he said, he mixed folk songs with love and resistance songs, before Berxwedan’s revolutionary songs had a major influence on him and his generation, as they were widely played in the streets of Derik and various other places.
Yerevan Radio: A radio station established in the Armenian capital in 1955, historically known for broadcasting in Kurdish and supporting Kurdish culture and community values.
From poetry to documenting the sacrifices of martyrs
Kawa Derik explained that poetry has held a special place in his life, and that his poetic experience developed significantly after several fighters from the Kurdistan Liberation Movement were martyred in the Tal Jaman area near Derik in 1990.
That year, he wrote a poem titled “Dayê”, which focused on martyr Qahraman and the martyrs of Tal Jaman. He recited it during the ceremony announcing their martyrdom, marking the beginning of a new stage in his poetic journey, which evolved alongside developments in Kurdistan’s revolution.
More than 300 poems in Kurdish and Arabic
Kawa Derik’s literary journey resulted in a poetry collection titled “Hilbistên Çiyayî”, published in 2017 and containing part of his poetic work.
He said he has written around 270 poems in Kurdish so far, in addition to nearly 40 poems in Arabic, although the Arabic poems have not yet been printed or published.
His poems address the geography, nature and mountains of Kurdistan. He has also written about prominent Kurdish figures and leaders, including leader Abdullah Ocalan, Sheikh Said, Seyid Riza, as well as renowned poets such as Cegerxwîn.
Poems about martyrs and symbols of struggle
Among his poetic works, Kawa Derik has written many poems about figures and martyrs who left their mark on the history of the Kurdish movement. These include a poem about martyr Zilan Akanci, which he recited three days after her martyrdom during a public event and later turned into a song titled “Keça Kurda.”
He also wrote poems about martyr Rojbin Arab, Leader Abdullah Ocalan and his mother, as well as martyrs Rustem Cudi, Khabat Derik and others.
He emphasized that most of his poems revolve around martyrs, the struggle for national and patriotic causes, and the spirit of sacrifice and dedication for the sake of freedom.
Seven years in Shengal and a book documenting the suffering of Yazidis
During his seven-year stay in Shengal, Kawa Derik witnessed closely the suffering of the Yazidi community and the tragedies, massacres and violations it endured.
He said he wrote many poems addressing what Yazidis suffered at the hands of ISIS militants, including the tragedies experienced by families and children, as well as the crimes of kidnapping and selling Yazidi women.
He also authored a book documenting this suffering and presenting the policies and violations faced by the Yazidi community. The book consists of 70 pages and includes 12 poems about that period.
Calls to support cultural and literary production
Despite repeated attempts to publish the book, Kawa Derik said he has so far been unable to print and release it, noting that cultural support bodies have not provided the required assistance.
He also pointed out that cultural and artistic institutions and groups have not provided sufficient support to transform these poems into artistic works or songs, making them part of the cultural heritage linked to the revolution and the sacrifices of martyrs who gave their lives for Kurdistan.
Kawa Derik concluded by emphasizing that poetry, for him, is not merely a literary experience, but a means of documenting the memory of martyrs, conveying the suffering of peoples and defending the values of freedom and homeland.
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