Timav Kobani is an artist from Kobani. His real name is Mohammed Sadiq. He was born in 1977 in Kobani to a patriotic, worker, and artist family. When he was a child, his father told him songs, stories, and old lullabies, and his older brother was in the band of Kobani, so these all influenced him. He was born with a crippled leg. From an early age, he had a great love for music, singing, and painting. He started singing at the age of seven. He always sang Gulistan Parwar's song “Ay Newroz Dikr” in front of his family. When people sat together, they called him to sing for them. As he grew older, so did his art. From the time he started school, he was loved by teachers, students, and those around him, and won many awards for his painting and singing. He also gradually began to write poetry. His first poem was called "Khan Sakni li Siya Dare" and his brother composed a song for it and released it on his tape "Shokh u Shang". Because of his interest in singing, music, and poetry, he also loved to perform in groups with his brother. However, because he was young and disabled, he was not allowed to join the group. When he is in seventh grade, a festival is held in school, all the students participate in the festival, and he participates by singing. There was a music teacher named Khasas in Lattakia (Lazqiya) who told him, "I work in the music department at a radio station in Lattakia. One day I will take you and you will sing there, but because he was disabled, his family did not allow him to go with his teacher.
Because of his nice voice, the friends of the music group tested him, so in 1995, Timav contacted the Kobani band, and on March 21, he performed his first song, “O Country, I Love You”. He loved art and served it to the best of his ability. Despite his young age and disability, he and some of his friends were arrested by the Syrian regime because of participating in many Newroz, festivals, and ceremonies and imprisoned for a while, and later they were released. Along with his schoolwork, he became engaged in his art again and worked more on music and poetry. Because he came from a poor family and because of the difficulty of buying school supplies and because he often went out to parties, he was often arrested by the Syrian regime and could not complete his education. So, he dropped out of school from 9th grade onwards.
Timav recently became famous for his song "My Teacher" about Osman Dadali. Osman is a politician and is loved and valued by the people of Kobani. Timav became very popular with the song. Because of his love for his country and nation, he uses his art to serve these people and thus he has become more successful and gradually become more known for his art and music. He did not want to become a wedding singer and sing at weddings. His goal was to publish revolutionary, national, and folk songs. He loves to be creative, and his hobbies are always creating poetry, songs, and paintings, as artists such as Ahmad Chap and Rashid Sofi reach high levels. He also wanted to hopefully reach a higher level and move on. He hopes to create something that no one else has, but unfortunately, he hasn’t achieved that yet. He did a lot, but not enough to leave his mark on history.
In 2014, he again participated in the band’s album with three songs. The album is known for his song "Darwishe Min Dalale". The second song is called "Booke", and the third song is called "Ru Asmar". He helped his fellow artists with many songs, such as "Sarhaldan, Lo Havalno Min Wanda Kir". He not only helped his bandmates but also gave the lyrics to a song called "Wara" by the famous artist "Znar Sozdar". He gave the lyrics of a song about an artist, Sarhad, to a singer from the East part of Kurdistan; He gave the lyrics of another song to Zrifa, a member of Barkhodan group. He made an album for Amed Kibar from Afrin and gave three songs to the Agri group in Aleppo. He has also produced a music video called “Edi Buhara Me Hat” for the children of “Baqi Khido” culture and art.
Timav Kobani's songs and poems include: Khan Sakni Li Siya Dare, Darwishe Min Dalale, Buke, Wara Dilo, Ru Asmare, Mamoste Min, Li Sar Humermand Sarhad, Dinim (Li Khaje and Siyaband), Mem u Zeen, Newroz, Evina Welat, Kobane is the crown of Rojava, I am a stranger and a refugee, Bave Leyla, Hevi, Khunav, my mother, Wara evin, when you left, Tirejen roje, Orhane min, Pakrewan, Qadi u Barzan, Sayd Reza Dersimi, and Banga khizanan.
He has written many scenarios and plays, written up to 15 plays, and directed music videos. He recently directed a music video called "Zine".
His wish is always that people who love their art, culture, music, and folklore are appreciated and made proud. When the artist is alive, his gift, even a single flower, is enough. But when he dies, there is no point in putting a flower garden on his grave. Many artists have become famous after their death. What good is it after the artist has died and has not seen his worth with his eyes when he is alive?
Despite his poverty, disability, and family problems, he has been able to serve Kurdish art well. Despite very few opportunities and at a very expensive cost, he has remained hidden in the crowd of artists.
Source: Interview with the artist Timav Kobani
