ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish Artist Agreen Dilshad on Monday was awarded one of the grand prizes in the John Lennon songwriting contest, marking the first time a song from the Middle East is awarded that honor.
Dilshad’s “Shari Dunya” (Kurdish for War of the World) received the grand prize in the category of “World”, and will proceed to compete for the "Lennon" Grand award in April 2023, according to a video posted by the artist.
“The song Shari Dunya is a special work for me and stems from my sense of human responsibility towards the concept of coexistence, as well as all the suffering that war has brought upon us, nature, the environment and all humanity,” said Dilshad in a press release sent to Rudaw English.
Born in Kirkuk in 1995, Dilshad started singing at the age of 12, and released his first album, Tenagay (Kurdish for You Don’t Understand) in 2020. The artist has released two albums, and is credited for over 80 other works in the field of music.
The annual contest honors the legacy of esteemed British musician John Lennon, giving songwriters from around the world a platform to express their creativity and garner recognition for their music since 1997. The contest is “made possible” by Yoko Ono Lennon, the widow of the former Beatles member.
Music is an inseparable component of Kurdish culture. The medium has been used to tell mesmerizing love stories, promote the Kurdish cause and pay respects to those who sacrificed their lives down that path, or just a general expression of joy and celebration.
