Kurdshop- The Kurdish famous singer, Shakiro, was born in 1936 in a small town in Panos near Agri. Due to his very beautiful voice, he was popular among Kurds as “Khasa kaw” or the Master or Mir of singers. His real name was “Shakir Deniz” and he was a “Reso Gopal” pupil. He was also known as “Shakir Mazin” and “Shakir Badih”.

Shakiro and his family were exiled to Adan in 1959. From 1959 to 1966 he spent his life in poverty. Later in 1966, he went back to Mush City with his family. After two years in Mush, in 1968 they settled in Qarayazi or Gogsi in Erzurum. He was famous for being able to sing for days. He was absolutely one of the best Kurdish singers.

Shakiro’s voice was very special and he could sing in very high octaves. There are a few other singers who could sing (ha ha hiii hiii) like Shakiro. As we mentioned above he was “Reso”’s pupil and had covered most of Reso’s lyrics and songs. He also had some songs of his own. “Reso” was “Awdal Zayniki” pupil himself.

Shakiro died in poverty in 1996 in Izmir, Turkey. His tomb is in Izmir now. Before he died a journalist interviewed him and he told him: “I’m very disappointed from my people. Kurds don’t support their artists and singers. Look at the Turks, they had one good singer named “Ashiq Vaysal” and they all supported him. They made him popular all over the world. We had “Reso” and he was our trainer. He died in poverty. Now you tell me… how can I talk to you”.

Shakiro died in despair but he is known as the singers’ prince among Kurds. He influenced Kurdish music greatly through his special style of singing. One feels astonished when he enunciates every word clearly in high octaves. Shakiro married twice and he had six offspring. He recorded 65 cassettes in his lifetime.