It has been 28 years since the death of dengbêj Eyşe Şan, one of the important names of Kurdish music. Eyşe Şan, popularly known as "the queen without crown and throne", was born in Amed (Diyarbakır) in 1938 as one of the 3 daughters of a family of 4 children. Eyşe Şan became interested in music at an early age with the influence of her dengbêj father. However, singing in her neighbourhood was considered a "sin" and "shameful". Eyşe Şan then settled in Dîlok. In the first processes here, she made a living by tailoring and did not leave music.

 

ISTANBUL, BAGHDAD, IZMIR...

 

Eyşe Şan travelled from Dîlok to Istanbul in 1963, where she made a record of Kurdish-Turkish songs. Eyşe Şan's name started to be heard with the song "Ez Xezal im". Eyşe Şan faced serious pressure because of her Kurdish songs, and in 1972 she went into exile in Germany.

 

Eyşe Şan's musical adventure continued here as well. Eyşe Şan, who reached a wide audience in Germany, appeared on BBC radio during this period. Eyşe Şan travelled to Baghdad in 1979. Eyşe Şan made her voice heard here as "Eyşana Elî". At Baghdad Radio, she met many important names of Kurdish music such as Mihemed Arif and Hesen Cizrawi, Tehsîn Taha, Meryem Xan, Îsa Bervari, Kawîs Axa, Gûlbahar, Nesrîn Sêrvan and Cemîlê Horo. Eyşe Şan supported the Kurdish freedom struggle in 1990 with the songs "Werin Pêşmerge" and "Newroz Dîyarbekir".

 

SHE COULD NOT SEE HER MOTHER

 

Eyşe Şan wanted to return to Amed and see her mother, whom she considered one of her biggest supporters. However, Eyşe Şan's wish could not be realised due to the obstacles of her relatives. Eyşe Şan lost her mother in this process. Eyşe Şan would later describe this situation that deeply affected her with the following words: "The death of my mother is the second biggest blow of my life. My heart is still wounded, I am still grieving. My mother's grief is above all other griefs for me. I have been abroad for as long as I can remember, I did not see her enough, I could never get enough of her. We were both above the ground, living in the same land, under the same sky, but we could not meet."

 

Eyşe Şan moved to Izmir after Baghdad and expressed her longing for her mother with her song "Dayikê". Eyşe Şan, who lived a life of exile, oppression and threats, died on 18 December 1996 in Izmir, where she lived alone due to cancer.

 

SONGS

 

Eyşe Şan left the following works: “Zerî Heyran”, “Xezal Xezal”, “Were Keçê Nav Zebeşan”, “Sallana Sallana”, “Salîho Kurmam”, “Mamo”, “Lawikê Mêtînî”, “Kirasê Te Meles e”, “Heywax Dayê”, “Hawar Bawo”, “Esmerê Were/Neyleyim”, “Delal”, “Berîvana Malxerab”, “Bawê Seyro”, “Ay Dil”, “Ax Lê Gulê”, “Koçerê (Min Te Dîbû)”, “Were Yadê”, “Cemîle”, “Memir Mamo”, “Hawer Delal”, “Qederê”, “Ax Lê Nazê”, “Wele Te Nastînim”, “Ximximê Torîvan”, “Yara Min”, “Xerîbim Dayê”, “Meyro”, “Bêmal”, “Govend Ranabê”, “Yadê Rebenê”, “Lê Lê Ximşê”, “Xezalê”, “Hesenîko”, “Mamir”, “Ez Xezal im”

 

'IT GAVE HOPE TO WOMEN'

 

Belkısa Süleymanoğlu Bitkin, one of the managers of Jîn Art Art House, which carries out culture and art activities in Izmir, stated that Eyşe Şan is a symbol and example for every Kurdish woman. Belkısa Süleymanoğlu Bitkin said: "We got to know Eyşe Şan through her struggle against the male-dominated system. No words and sentences are enough to describe her sacred struggle. Her struggle against the masculine mentality became hope for many women, and she has brought this aspect to the present day with her works. With her 3 children, she managed to get out of the difficulties she was alone with resistance. She existed herself against assimilation, masculine mentality and every kind of oppression."

 

Belkısa Süleymanoğlu Bitkin stated that Eyşe Şan never gave up music and struggle against difficulties and said: "Eyşe Şan is still guiding us and shedding light on us today. Today, her struggle has set an example for thousands of women."