Minstrels of the Sacred Mountain

East Kurdistan, Iran, 2022, 41 min., Kurdish with English subtitles, directed by Farid Elhami.

Documentary film followed by a discussion with director Farid Elhami and a musical performance.

Directed by Farid Elhami, the 20th direct descendant of Sultan Ishaq of Yarsan (Kakaei), this film documents the history of one of the oldest instruments known to mankind, the tanbour*. This instrument is one of the oldest Kurdish musical instruments. It is linked to a treasure trove of myths and rituals and a rich repertoire of music and songs. The tanbour is mainly played by the Kurds and is a symbol of the burden of the most oppressed minority in at least four countries in the Middle East.

*The tanbour is a plucked long-necked lute with frets and two to five strings, whereby the highest string can be doubled.