BERJÎN KARA

Makhmour- Residents of the Makhmour Martyr Rustem Cudi Camp (Makhmour Refugee Camp) are getting ready to celebrate the birthday of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on April 4. The camp residents have celebrated his birthday every year with the same enthusiasm and determination since they became refugees. This year, they will hold many activities such as inter school competitions, football matches, hiking, poetry and many more. Teachers and students in the camp have started their own orchestra for the celebrations that will take place on April 4. NuJINHA spoke to the members of the orchestra.

‘We have been preparing for two months’

Xurbet İlhan, a member of the orchestra, plays saz (a musical instrument). “April 4 is an important day for all Kurdish people because leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) was born on April 4 and then he started the Kurdish freedom movement. As the residents of the camp, we celebrate his birthday every year by holding many activities. As the teachers and students of the Martyr Koçerin School, we started our own orchestra to perform on April 4. We have been preparing for the celebrations for two months. Most of the members of the orchestra are young women.”

‘We are getting ready for an important day’

All members of the orchestra are getting ready through rehearsals. “We are very excited to take to the stage on April 4 because we are getting ready for an important day,” said Xurbet İlhan, calling on young people to “improve themselves in the field of art and culture for the future of their society.”

Most of the orchestra members are young women, said Zîlan Özek. “We will take to the stage on April 4. Music makes life beautiful. I believe that our performance will be great.”