Fifth Anniversary of the Passing of Kurdish Artist and Peshmerga Saeed Gabari

ARK News.. On this day, five years ago—May 4, 2020—the renowned Kurdish artist and Peshmerga fighter Saeed Gabari passed away at the age of 64 after a battle with lung cancer. He died in a hospital in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

A Brief Biography

Saeed Gabari was born on April 13, 1956, in the village of “Xirbê Kejê”, located east of Amuda in Syrian Kurdistan.

From a young age, Gabari showed a deep passion for music. His musical talent began to emerge at the age of eight, inspired by his mother, who used to sing traditional Kurdish folk songs. Together, they would memorize and sing these songs. During his early years, he met iconic Kurdish poets and artists such as “Sayeday Tîrêj” and “Cigerxwîn”, who supported his artistic journey. He also had the honor of meeting the legendary Kurdish singer Muhammad Sheikho.

Gabari performed his first song publicly at the age of ten in Qamishli and Amuda. Despite the harsh circumstances of the time—including the lack of basic recording, duplication, and distribution tools—he succeeded in recording his first song in 1969, which was widely distributed at the time.

He carried the essence of Kurdish folklore and history in his heart, dedicating himself to its preservation at a time when Kurdish culture faced relentless threats from hostile forces.

Saeed Gabari passed away five years ago after succumbing to lung cancer, leaving behind a rich artistic legacy. He was laid to rest in the town of Mala Omar, near the city of Erbil, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

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