Famous Sulaimani singer Karim Kaban dies at 89

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region –Karim Kaban, one of Kurdistan Region’s famous singers passed away on Thursday aged 89, leaving behind a legacy of Kurdish folk music and millions of fans heartbroken.

Kaban died from organ failure a few days after he was admitted into Shar hospital in his hometown of Sulaimani.

The singer’s son Soran Kaban told Rudaw that his father "dreamed of seeing an independent Kurdistan. He spent his lifetime since his early ages within the Kurdish revolutions,”

Born in 1927, Kaban recorded his first song at 14 as a teenage singer. At 20 he became the manager of the Kurdish department of Radio Baghdad.

 His music career kicked off the same year when he recorded an album of 8 tracks.

Kaban’s only will was “the protection of his art work for the future generations,” said his son.

Kaban’s songs featured on Kurdish TV in the 1980s and he still remains a favored singer on many Kurdish radio stations.

Kaban released only 20 songs in his career most memorable among them “Bedarani shaw” and Taman.