Ali Zandi


Ali Zandi was a famous traditional Kurdish singer and musician from Sna, Kurdistan province, Iran. Ali was born to a family from Sîâsarân village, and raised in the Âlawlâkh village, Leîlâkh area. He is famous for his impact on the Kurdish music by bringing the folk music of Leîlâkh to social media through live performance in Kurdsat, Kurdistan TV and Zagros TV as well as publishing several albums such as Nâlae Nîwashaw and Hâmed Alîjanî, an album in memory of less-known poet and Âref of Leîlâkh Hâmed Alîjani. There are also various tracks that have been recorded in family and friend gatherings singing pristine and unique folk melodies of Leîlâkh. He published more than 10 albums and a dozen of tracks with amateur recording.

Early life and education

He was inspired by his father when reciting books in gatherings when almost all people was uneducated. He also found his interest through the sounds from nature. He was the classmate of Naser Razzazi and Najjmadin Gholami.
He received his diploma from the Bou Ali High School. During high school, he was living with their relatives as he was unable to have its own places, consequently many relatives were familiar with his thoughts and goals. Ali Zandi was enthusiastic to pursue the higher education at university, and started teacher-training program at Dânshsara. However, he was not miserably successful because it coincided with the Cultural Revolution when universities closed for almost three years that negatively affecting Ali's upcoming prospective.

Artistic life and political issues

Ali continued his artistic life as a singer and singing trainer. He was one of the first singers to perform live concerts in a Kurdish City after Iranian Islamic Revolution. During 1986-2000 he was imprisoned several times as the poems of the songs were not in favor of local administrators and were considered as promotion of demonstration against the current regime. Ali was tortured specially in solitary cell by using multiple mock executions. He mostly resided in Sanandaj up to 2002 when he moved to Mahabad. However, owing to the cultural and political reasons, in both places, Ali had not sufficient income and always coped with economic challenges. Among the famous musicians who worked with Ali Zandi as instrumentalists and arrangers, were Anwar Gharadaghi, Rashid Fainezhad, Mozaffar Kamgar and Niaz Santoor. Ali believed that most of problem of Kurdish communities is due to cultural and educational poverty which is rooted from economic problem. He treated well and kindly with students and children and always encouraged them to study sciences and learn art specially music.

Discography

Albums

Some of the most important albums are as follows:
  1. Album no. 1
  2. Albom no. 2
  3. Nâlae Nîwashaw
  4. Dlop Dlop
  5. Kase Nâprse Hawârm
  6. Are ae sterae âsmân
  7. Yarân la Jargm
  8. Awa Bahâr Hât
  9. Har Mn chawarwân Nîa Qarârm
  10. Wara Wara aî Âeînm
  11. Gîroda Be

Famous single tracks

  1. Mama Korno
  2. Gardoon Âmâne
  3. Azîz Ba Gîâno
  4. Hâmed Alîjanî
  5. Shamâl Âmâne
  6. Saghî Faryâdem
  7. Bâwa Yâl
  8. Nawroz
  9. Tawnî Daka Kechî Kurd
  10. Sâ Mâl Âwâ Âzîzakam
  11. Wak Jaerânakân

Death

Ali Zandi died of brain cancer at the age of 67 after second brain surgery, when he had many hopes to be recovered. According to one of his close friend living in Iran, he had another surgery during 2020, when he was sure that the tumor was just benign. After his death, Shaho Andalibi was among the people who acknowledged his ability in folk music and indicated that Ali complained about the terrible situation, i.e. social and political issues, of the Kurdish folk singers.