Tunisian singer invites Kurdish tourists to her country through music

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Hoping to draw tourists from the Kurdistan Region to her native country of Tunisia, musician and singer Malek Cochtoben recently came to Erbil with her qanun instrument saying that music crosses all borders and barriers.

 

“We know music is an international language,” Cochtoben told Rudaw. “We can convey our message to people through music even if they don’t understand our words.”

 

She said she was initially hesitant to visit the Kurdistan Region due to the news she was hearing on war and explosions in Iraq. But she finally made the decision to go ahead with her visit.

 

“We’ve come here to show Tunisian art to the people of Kurdistan. The Middle East needs peace more than ever, and it’s only music which can bring about peace,” Malek told Rudaw.

 

Malek has a Master’s degree in music and teaches music at Tunis University. She said she was familiar with Kurdish music long before her trip to Kurdistan through the songs of Abdulqahar Zakholy.

 

“For a while now I have been in love with the voice of Abdulqahar Zakholy, who is a Kurdish artist. I very interested in his voice, although I don’t understand his words. But his performance and sweet voice attracts everyone. He sings very passionately,” she said. 

 

Malek’s traditional Tunisian dress made it hard not to notice her at the Middle East Tourism Exhibition in Erbil last week.

 

Playing of some Indonesian melody on her qanun attracted many visitors to her desk.

 

“We want to convey the message of love to humanity through music and art.” Cochtoben said.  “Music carries the message of peace and love. Most nations know each other through art, and we knew the Kurdish nation more through art.”

 

“Europeans have the piano, which is known as the king of instruments, but in the Middle East and especially in the Arab world, it is qanun that is regarded as the king of musical instruments. Qanun is an ancient instrument. Its shape and way of playing it have been modernized nowadays without losing its authenticity,” she added.

 

“The qanun and I go back a long way,” Cochtoben told of her love of the instrument. “I was previously playing lute. I then started playing qanun realizing that they were similar to each other, although qanun is a difficult instrument to learn due to its many strings. Qanun is very close to my soul. I think it looks like me.” 

 

“I am an admirer of Turkish music. I also like Kurdish music, which is close to Turkish music. Kurdish Maqam is very nice. I think Arab nations should know more about Kurdish music,” Malek said.

 

By the end of her visit Cochtoben was in love with Kurdistan and the local hospitality.

 

“In Tunis, I will be talking about Kurdistan’s kindness. I will be talking to Tunisian intellectuals about Kurdistan and will be telling them that Kurdistan is a nice touristic place, and that they can spend their holidays here,” she said.