I Am Kurdish by Mohammad Syfkhan

In the heart of the Middle East lies a stateless nation, a cultural group which has been so thoroughly impacted by European colonialism as to make them highly susceptible to wave after wave of ground wars and political repression. You may think you know which stateless nation I’m talking about, but this video is actually about Kurdistan. And, although I can’t really film on location, Nashville is lucky to have the next best thing: the largest Kurdish community outside Kurdistan. The new album I Am Kurdish by Mohammad Syfkhan was born out of one refugee’s harrowing experience of violence at the hands of ISIS, as one of his sons was killed in the ongoing Syrian civil war. However, you wouldn’t pick up on this traumatizing background just by listening to the album; in fact, everything we hear here feels celebratory, even jubilant in tone. This beautiful collection of Kurdish folk and fusion dance songs reflects this tough people’s ability to retain their vibrant culture even amidst a broad diaspora, from Syfkhan’s new home of Ireland to right here in Middle Tennessee. If you get a chance, give businesses in your local diaspora community some love; your ears and taste buds will thank you.