Mem Ararat

Mem Ararat is a Kurdish singer, songwriter, and composer.

He was born September 17, 1981, in the village of Girke Şêx in Mardin province.  When he was seven, his family moved to western Turkey due to poor economic conditions. In 1991 they returned to his village. But he and his family moved away again in 1994, this time, for political reasons,  returning to western Turkey.

As a result of these migrations, he attended only primary school. He was interested in music from childhood but lacked opportunity to develop his talent. He returned to his hometown in 2007 and settled in the Kızıltepe district of Mardin, where he worked at various jobs in farming, construction and trading.

Meanwhile he wrote and composed songs. In 2013, at the urging of friends, he shared his first studio album, Quling Ewr û Baran (Crane, Clouds, and Rain). That initiated his professional career in music.

In the next years, he released the albums Kurdîka (2016), Xewna Bajarekî (A City’s Dream, 2018), Niştiman (Homeland, 2019), and Pesna Evînê (Praise of Love, 2020).

He has given many concerts at home and abroad.  Despite his youth, he is among the best-known Kurdish musicians.

Favorite tracks among NYKCC volunteers include “Hawara Kobanê” and “Strana Bêdengiya Dayika Min.” Be sure to visit his channels on YouTube and SoundCloud.