Ez Gazîn Im

Ez Gazîn Im is a book chronicling the life of Kurdish female singer Dengbêj Gazîn.

Dengbêjs are performers of Kurdish sung narrative who are often described as crucial transmitters of Kurdish oral history and literature. Born in the 1950s, Gazîn was one of the few female dengbêjs who achieved fame and popularity in Turkey. Throughout her life, she was engaged in supporting female singers, dengbêjs and artist and set up the first association for women dengbêjs in Kurdistan. Her engagement took place against the backdrop of lasting political and gendered restrictions on Kurdish women’s voices, and was beset by difficulties and contradictions. history acounts and published in both Kurdish and Turkish, it puts centre stage Gazîn’s own voice and that of her female companions. As much as the book documents an individual life story, it articulates hopes, desires, and aspirations that are shared by many Kurdish women today. Ez Gazîn Im sheds light on the complex contours of Gazîn’s struggle. Based on oral history acounts and published in both Kurdish and Turkish, it puts centre stage Gazîn’s own voice and that of her female companions. As much as the book documents an individual life story, it articulates hopes, desires, and aspirations that are shared by many Kurdish women today.