Maryam Mokhberi (born 1950) with a career spanning over 60 years, known for her exceptional expertise in the art of lamentation. Born in the small village of Tazabad in Ghorveh Province (Kurdistan, Iran) in the early 1950s, Maryam was always fascinated by children’s tales and folk songs, such as bartaunana (carpet-making songs) and began to make up her own rhymes and lyrics at a very young age.
The art of lamentation is more than just singing. It is a passionate expression of grief that often involves wailing, moaning and crying. A skilled lamentation singer must have compassion, sensitivity and empathy. It is a heavy, difficult way of expressing oneself, and Maryam’s performances are known to touch the hearts of those who hear them.
Throughout her life, Maryam has faced challenges, including censorship and restrictions on Kurdish cultural expression. Despite this, she remained dedicated to preserving and promoting the traditional music of her homeland and bringing people together through sorrow and pain.
This publication contains 16 laments and songs.
Recorded at the Global Music Centre’s Global Mobile Studio in Helsinki, Finland in 2016.