The General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts in the Kurdistan Region conducted a memorial ceremony on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the late great Syriac artist Bakuri in cooperation with the General Directorate of Culture and Arts in Erbil on Tuesday evening, December 13, 2022, at the Culture Hall in Erbil. The event was held in the presence of Peshtwan Sadiq, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, Aidan Maarouf, Minister of Component Affairs, Dr. Salar Othman, and Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth, in addition to several government and administrative officials, the family of the deceased, a group of artists and fans of the art of the late Bakuri, his friends and colleagues. The event began with a minute of silence for the soul of the late, synchronizing with the raising of the Kurdish anthem, then lighting candles dedicated to the spirit of the deceased. After that, Kaldo Ramzi Oghanna, Director-General of Syriac Culture and Arts, delivered a speech to the organizers, in which he praised Kurdistan, the oasis of love and fraternal coexistence, the place in which the father of the deceased escaped to during the oppression of the Ottomans and the genocide campaigns that affected our people after the war. After the war, Andreos the Child was born and raised, he adored ritual hymns, was attracted and enchanted by their atmosphere and sounds, and was a lover of Mam Siwa’s voice, whether in Kurdish scales or church hymns. He added, no field of creativity may be devoid of extensive, influential, and prominent contributions of our Syriac innovators, and if we touch on the field of musical creativity, we will find many who contributed to the development of music and singing in Kurdistan. For example, William Youkhana, the famous music teacher, Mam Siwa, and Bakuri, who presented a wide range of melodies. They enriched the archive of Kurdish music, as it is not surprising that any Syriac person would offer his services and creativity to his brothers in the homeland, in a wonderful reflection of the spirit of love and fraternal coexistence that brings us all together in Kurdistan. This is the case of flow, their giving is unlimited, not confined to their component only, but rather overflows and includes other coexisting components. He concluded by saying: “Bakuri will remain an example and icon of coexistence and love between all the components of Kurdistan, and his message will remain alive, continuous, and effective through his students and fans of his art, and all of us.” This was followed by the speech of the Ministry of Culture and Youth of the Kurdistan Regional Government delivered by Dr. Salar Othman, Undersecretary of the Ministry, in which he emphasized that Kurdistan is the homeland of creative people and an oasis of peaceful coexistence. It welcomed the displaced Andreos family, and in which that immigrant rises to become an artistic icon and a symbol of Kurdistan because it respects others and its doors are open for everyone to be creative and distinguished. Additionally, one is respected and appreciated by leaders and presidents, referring in this context to the meeting of the deceased with President Barzani, who congratulated the late artist on the occasion of the holidays, as President Barzani has great respect and appreciation for him. Afterward, a short film on the life, achievements, and creativity of the late, was presented and it was produced by the Ministry of Culture and Youth. During the ceremony, an honorary shield was presented in the name of the ministry to the family of the deceased which was presented by Salar Othman, as well as honorary shields and bouquets of roses in the name of several official bodies were presented to the family, to several art pioneers in Kurdistan, and the Bawaji Ensemble. Dr. Saba Bakuri, the son of the deceased, gave a speech on behalf of the family, during which he thanked the regional government, its people, and all the fans of the late, on behalf of the family, expressing thanks and appreciation to all the contributors for organizing this ceremony and everyone who cares about the heritage and archive of the great artist and preserving it. The Bawaji Ensemble, which the late late laid the first nucleus for its foundation, also presented musical and lyrical segments, composed by the late, with the participation of a number of Kurdish singers, lovers of the late’s art, colleagues and students, and the Syriac artist Youssef Aziz participated with them.
