Two Kurdish musicians took the spotlight in Brussels this weekend, bringing authentic Kurdish melodies to one of Europe’s most prestigious musical institutions, the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra.
Alan Arif, a renowned violinist from the Kurdistan Region, and Sherko Kaniwar, a skilled daf player from southeastern Turkey, performed with the Belgian orchestra. Their collaboration highlighted Kurdish music within a classical orchestral setting.
The centerpiece was a Sama’i composition, a traditional form in Middle Eastern music, written by Iraqi musician Qutaiba al-Nuaimi, who has Kurdish maternal heritage. The piece features a 10/8 rhythm and reflects the diversity and richness of Kurdish musical traditions.
Nuaimi told Rudaw that the composition allows European audiences to experience Kurdish music authentically while preserving its traditional identity. “Europeans want to understand our music. We presented it in a scientific and orchestral way so it can be performed and appreciated in our style,” he said.
Alan Arif curated the piece, drawing inspiration from multiple regions of Kurdistan. “It is not easy to capture all the colors of Kurdish music in seven to eight minutes. This is why I named it ‘The Kurdish Sama’i,’” he explained.
The event drew a large crowd, mostly local Belgians, along with members of the Kurdish diaspora. Goran Hawrami, who traveled from Ireland, described the audience’s reaction: “When Alan played the Kurdish piece, the locals cheered louder than I did. Their joy was contagious.”
Hawrami emphasized that Kurdish musicians can perform at the same level as any other nationality: “Kurds are not any less than other nations in orchestra; we can play right alongside them.”
The performance united orchestra members from Belgium, France, and the Netherlands with the Kurdish soloists, successfully introducing Kurdish musical heritage to an international audience. Attendees praised the unique collaboration, which combined the technical precision of Western classical music with the rhythm and soul of Kurdish tradition.
The event reflects growing global interest in Kurdish arts and demonstrates how traditional music can find a place on the world’s most respected stages.