On April 17, Funkawari – an event that combines Kurdish folk melodies with the lively rhythms of funk music – was organized by a group of Kurdish artists led by Funkawari founder and saxophonist Sivan Payadar, at the Erbil citadel.

The music group, which performs live across Kurdistan, includes saxophonists, pianists, guitarists, drummers, vocalists, and bass guitarists.

Read More: Funkawari: Blending Old and New Music

The event was attended by music enthusiasts, diplomats, and prominent figures in Erbil, including Governor of Erbil Omed Xoshnaw.

Consul General of India in Erbil Madan Gopal told Kurdistan Chronicle that he loved the music at the event.

“Funkawari is amazing. The music today, the instruments, and the vocalist – I really enjoyed it.”

Funkawari manager Ayar Rasool told Kurdistan Chronicle that the Funkawari project has two goals: to modernize Kurdish music and melodies and mix them with modern music styles like funk.

Watch scenes from the Funkawari performance, a unique blend of Kurdish folk melodies and funk music that took place on April 17 at the Erbil citadel. pic.twitter.com/cqm8qeSA6h

— Kurdistan Chronicle (@KurdChronicle) April 21, 2024

The genre’s name comes from a combination of “funk” and “awari,” a term rooted in the distinctive Kurdish word “kurdawari,” which means “the Kurdish way of life.”

“We took solos from old songs and played them in a funk style,” Rasool said. “We want to introduce this new kind of music to the new generation, to people who never listen to Kurdish folk music or old Kurdish songs.” 

“Tonight we did something different by mixing Turkmen, Christian, and Kurmanji songs with funk music,” he continued. “The whole idea is to modernize these songs and make them cool again, as well as make it easier for people to listen to them.” 

During the event, the band underlined that they want to respect the different cultures and ethnic groups living in Kurdistan, which is why they played music from the Yezidi, Turkmen, and Chaldean-Assyrian-Syriac Christian communities.

“We have different nationalities and different religions all together here in Kurdistan. They used to live together in the Citadel in harmony, and we want to show that here tonight,” Rasool said.