HALABJA, Kurdistan Region – Muhammad Ibrahim Abdul, better known by his stage name Hama Qutu, is one of Halabja’s most iconic singers, who revived many romantic songs in the Hawrami dialect that had long been forgotten. He was honored in a ceremony at the Halabja Youth Centre on Monday.

Hama Qutu, who died in 1992 at the age of 52, was not himself Hawrami, yet he was able to perfect local tunes and lyrics, winning widespread respect. In the 1970 and ‘80s, his music videos featuring Kurdish line dancing, traditional costumes, and scenery were favorites on television.


“Hama Qutu’s voice was unique,” said Anwar Qaradaghi, a Kurdish composer and violinist, who has kept Hama Qutu’s musical legacy alive. “His voice carried with it the scent and picture of the narrow alleys of Halabja.”


The Halabja Youth music band performed several of Hama Qutu’s most popular songs, led by singer Rabar Nuri – who is widely regarded as the young Hama Qutu.

In his own tribute, local singer Najm Muhammad called Hama Qutu a revolutionary for bringing old Hawrami songs into professional music bands. His songs were usually sung without music and mainly at homes.


“It’s wrong to say Hama Qutu was a local singer,” Muhammad said in a speech at the packed event. “He was a national singer for all Kurds like all other singers we have.”

A 19-minute documentary titled the ‘Story of an Authentic Chirp’ about the singer’s life was also screened.

“I always tried to imitate his voice when I was starting as a young singer,” Azada Rash, a Halabja singer, said in the documentary. “His voice will forever remain in our hearts and culture. A thousand blessings to his soul.”

Hama Qutu was born in 1939 in Halabja. He worked as a taxi driver between the city and Sulaimani before recording his first album in 1954 in the studios of Radio Baghdad’s Kurdish service.


“Socially my father was very open minded and to us and our mother he was like a friend,” Hama Qutu’s daughter Shadan Muhammad Abdul said.


CD copies of Hama Qutu’s songs such as Hey Magri Magri (Don’t Cry), Sawzay Kalabay (Unripe Quince) and Em Ewaraya (This Evening) were handed out at the ceremony.

Rudaw