Footage of Danish-Kurdish pop star Tobias Rahim captivating a massive audience with a Kurdish dance during his Saturday performance at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark has become a hot topic on social media.
In a video shared by the songwriter himself, Rahim can be seen encouraging the crowd during his song “Kurder I København,” (Kurds in Copenhagen) urging them to hold each other’s pinkie fingers and join in the Kurdish dance.
The energetic circle dance, known as halay, was set in motion by the sound of an electro bağlama, a traditional Turkish stringed instrument similar to a mandolin, but with a longer neck and seven strings.
As the halay unfolded, a Kurdistan flag waved proudly on the stage, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.
Most of the 80,000-strong crowd joined in the dance, carried away on the lyrics of Rahim’s popular song from his previous album which echoed around the festival site: “From where the wolves run on the plains / And a beautiful flag with a sun on it / says the days are getting better…”
Tobias Rahim, whose heritage stems from his Kurdish father and Danish mother, made his debut with his self-titled solo EP “Tobias Rahim” in 2017.
Following his initial success, he gained critical acclaim with his highly regarded album “National Romantik 2021” in 2020, featuring hit songs like “Jesus,” “Borderline,” and “Sang til Siri.”
In his most recent album “Når sjælen kaster op” released in 2022, tracks such as “Mucki Bar” and “Feberdrømmer Xx Dubai” became chart-topping hits in Denmark.
Rahim’s songwriting abilities have earned praise from critics, who recognise his talent for delving deep into his own soul through the platform of pop music. With striking lyrics, he confronts capitalism and nationalism, leaving a profound impact on his listeners.
