Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality will commemorate Ayşe Şan—one of the most significant figures in Kurdish music—on the 29th anniversary of her death, with a comprehensive two-day programme comprising theatre, a panel and a concert.

The Department of Culture, Arts and Social Affairs is organising a commemoration programme for Ayşe Şan, widely remembered as the “Uncrowned Queen” of Kurdish music, on 17–18 December. Over two days, her life, artistry and the legacy she left to Kurdish music will be discussed under a range of themes.

Theatre performance to meet audiences

Organised in partnership with the Department of Culture, Arts and Social Affairs, the Women’s Culture, Arts and Literature Association (KASED), MA Music and the Dicle–Fırat Cultural Centre, the programme will begin with a theatre performance on 17 December at 18:30 at the Ali Emiri Cultural Hall. Prepared by Berfin Zenderlioğlu, the play focuses on the life of Ayşe Şan and will be staged for audiences.

Panel to be held

On the second day of the programme, a commemoration will take place at Ayşe Şan’s grave in Yeniköy Cemetery on 18 December at 13:00. Later the same day, at 18:00, a panel titled “Ayşe Şan’s Musical Life” will be held at the Ali Emiri Cultural Hall. Moderated by Saliha Ayata, the panel will feature presentations by Berfin Zenderlioğlu on “Ayşe Şan: A Musician and an Artist as a Woman”, and by Zeynep Yaş, Head of the Department of Culture, Arts and Social Affairs, on “Ayşe Şan’s Life and Her Place in Kurdish Music”.

Concert by 25 artists

Following the panel, a special concert featuring Ayşe Şan’s works will be held at 19:30. With 25 artists taking the stage from Muzîkjenên Ma Music, KASED, the Dicle–Fırat Cultural Centre and the Aram Tigran City Conservatoire, Ayşe Şan’s voice and music will once again resonate in Diyarbakır.

Ayşe Şan, who passed away in İzmir on 18 December 1996, was brought to Diyarbakır on 18 June and laid to rest at Yeniköy Cemetery following a ceremony.