Metin & Kemal Kahraman, a Zazaki music duo from Turkey, known for producing ethno-protest music for decades, commemorated their 30th anniversary with a concert in Istanbul that both celebrated their musical journey and emphasised their enduring commitment to political advocacy.
The musical journey of the brothers Metin & Kemal began 30 years ago with their well-known song “Deniz Koydum Adını” (I named him Deniz*), which achieved a prominent place in the charts. Like other protest musicians in Turkey, they have faced significant hardships over the decades. Despite these challenges, they have released nine albums and performed countless concerts.
The brothers Metin & Kemal were born in a three household mountain hamlet in the Pülümür district of Dersim. They spent their early childhood in the two cities of Erzincan, which is Turkish-speaking and Dersim, which is Zazaki-speaking, gaining insights into both cultures. In the early 80s, their paths diverged due to their studies in Ankara and Istanbul. Metin Kahraman co-founded the acclaimed Grup Yorum with musician colleagues in Istanbul, while his brother Kemal continued his musical pursuits more casually. By 1993, after two years of collaboration, they released their first album, also called ‘Deniz Koydum Adını.’
The real work of the Kahraman Brothers involved compiling unrecorded ballads sung by the elderly from the Erzincan and Dersim regions. These ethno-musical efforts distinguished Metin & Kemal Kahraman in the music scene. They conducted fieldwork, travelling extensively to record original interpretations from local people.
Unfortunately, the Kahraman Brothers faced state repression, between them suffering imprisonment and time spent abroad due to their political opposition.
In their 30th anniversary performance, they expressed their solidarity with imprisoned Kurdish politicians Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş, who have recently been sentenced to three and four decades of imprisonment respectively, despite rulings from the European Court of Human Rights demanding their release. The siblings performed their most popular song ‘Deniz Koydum Adını’ for Yüksekdağ and the Zazaki folk song “Dewrano” (Derviş**) for Demirtaş. These performances were the highlights of the concert for thousands of viewers.
The historically rich region of Dersim, the home town of the brothers Metin & Kemal, is known for its strong Alevi cultural traditions. As members of the Alevi minority, their music deeply reflects the spiritual and social themes that are integral to Alevi identity.
The Alevi community is known for its unique musical expression, often characterised by mystical lyrics and the use of traditional instruments like the bağlama, a traditional stringed instrument commonly used in folk music across Anatolia and Mesopotamia.
*The name Deniz is significant among the left in Turkey, because of the execution by hanging of a revolutionary student by the name of Deniz Gezmiş in 1972. The incident touched the hearts of many in Turkey, and his name lived on and became symbolic of resistance to tyranny.
**“Dervish” refers to wandering people of the Alevi and Mevlevi religions, who live an ascetic lifestyle. They are seen as spiritual characters and appear in many folk tales, appearing from and disappearing into thin air, usually in the guise of an old man.
