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Culture
Kurdish singers Hani Mojtahedy and Firmesk Hafez address fans in a Facebook video after their Thursday night concert at Sualimani's Spi Hall venue was canceled at the last minute. Photo: Hani Mojtahedy / Facebook video
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Music fans were left disappointed on Thursday when the organizer of a concert in Sulaimani allegedly absconded with the ticket money, forcing the artists to cancel.
Fans arrived at the Spi Hall venue in Sulaimani at 5pm local time on Thursday expecting an evening of live music with celebrated Kurdish singers Hani Mojtahedy and Firmesk Hafez.
The concert, billed by a company called SEDA Production, had been advertised for 10 days with more than 1,200 tickets sold at 10,000 IQD each. Some VIP tickets cost 25,000 IQD.
However, the 6pm concert was canceled at the last minute when it emerged the event organizer had made off with more than $10,000-worth of ticket sales. The unidentified man’s whereabouts are not known, and SEDA Production has not issued a comment.
Speaking to Rudaw, with tears running down her face, Firmesk said she had been “embarrassed” in front of her fans. “But what can I do?” she asked.
“I don’t know what to say. You have to forgive me. As an artist, I just want to render service to the art for the people,” Firmesk told Rudaw.
“One or two hours [prior] to the event, we heard that the man had disappeared,” she said.
Shortly before the concert was due to begin they realized no other musicians or instruments were ready and that an angry crowd of fans were waiting.
“We were shocked. The issue is not money. It is about being embarrassed in front of these people that I have. I don’t know what to say. I am embarrassed.”
Firmesk said she hopes to make it up her fans at a future concert.
On Thursday evening Firmesk joined fellow singer Hani in a joint Facebook video explaining what happened.
“We are really embarrassed. I and Firmesk, the dear artist with an amazing voice, happily came back all the way from Germany to present a concert to you dears, some of you being from Rojhelat (Iranian Kurdistan),” Hani said.
“It is neither my fault, nor Hani’s, or the musicians,” Firmesk said.
The singers said they would publish the name and photo of the “evil” concert organizer in the hope he is found.
This is not the first time the artists have faced issues with organizers, Hani said. “This has to get bigger, for it to be discussed in Kurdistan.”
This should not happen to people who serve Kurdish music, Hani added.
Fans were equally upset and are demanded answers.
“We are waiting to see what the result is, to see if we are going to be reimbursed or not, to stay here or go back. I have come from Kirkuk, spending a lot of money,” one fan told Rudaw outside the venue.
“We didn’t know things would turn out like that,” said another disappointed fan. Then again “this is Kurdistan. Anything can be expected to happen,” she added.
“We thought they were joking,” one fan said after the venue’s security guards told him the concert was canceled. “They said that someone had collected the money of the tickets and has fled.”
Fans also criticized the performers for pulling out of the concert, saying they should have put on a show regardless of the lost ticket revenue.
“These two artists should not care about the money, but actually take their fans into consideration,” the fan added.
NET TV, a Kurdish satellite channel which sponsored the event, has also been asked to explain what happened.
The broadcaster is yet to issue a statement.
Fans arrived at the Spi Hall venue in Sulaimani at 5pm local time on Thursday expecting an evening of live music with celebrated Kurdish singers Hani Mojtahedy and Firmesk Hafez.
The concert, billed by a company called SEDA Production, had been advertised for 10 days with more than 1,200 tickets sold at 10,000 IQD each. Some VIP tickets cost 25,000 IQD.
However, the 6pm concert was canceled at the last minute when it emerged the event organizer had made off with more than $10,000-worth of ticket sales. The unidentified man’s whereabouts are not known, and SEDA Production has not issued a comment.
Speaking to Rudaw, with tears running down her face, Firmesk said she had been “embarrassed” in front of her fans. “But what can I do?” she asked.
“I don’t know what to say. You have to forgive me. As an artist, I just want to render service to the art for the people,” Firmesk told Rudaw.
“One or two hours [prior] to the event, we heard that the man had disappeared,” she said.
Shortly before the concert was due to begin they realized no other musicians or instruments were ready and that an angry crowd of fans were waiting.
“We were shocked. The issue is not money. It is about being embarrassed in front of these people that I have. I don’t know what to say. I am embarrassed.”
Firmesk said she hopes to make it up her fans at a future concert.
On Thursday evening Firmesk joined fellow singer Hani in a joint Facebook video explaining what happened.
“We are really embarrassed. I and Firmesk, the dear artist with an amazing voice, happily came back all the way from Germany to present a concert to you dears, some of you being from Rojhelat (Iranian Kurdistan),” Hani said.
“It is neither my fault, nor Hani’s, or the musicians,” Firmesk said.
The singers said they would publish the name and photo of the “evil” concert organizer in the hope he is found.
This is not the first time the artists have faced issues with organizers, Hani said. “This has to get bigger, for it to be discussed in Kurdistan.”
This should not happen to people who serve Kurdish music, Hani added.
Fans were equally upset and are demanded answers.
“We are waiting to see what the result is, to see if we are going to be reimbursed or not, to stay here or go back. I have come from Kirkuk, spending a lot of money,” one fan told Rudaw outside the venue.
“We didn’t know things would turn out like that,” said another disappointed fan. Then again “this is Kurdistan. Anything can be expected to happen,” she added.
“We thought they were joking,” one fan said after the venue’s security guards told him the concert was canceled. “They said that someone had collected the money of the tickets and has fled.”
Fans also criticized the performers for pulling out of the concert, saying they should have put on a show regardless of the lost ticket revenue.
“These two artists should not care about the money, but actually take their fans into consideration,” the fan added.
NET TV, a Kurdish satellite channel which sponsored the event, has also been asked to explain what happened.
The broadcaster is yet to issue a statement.
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