A new book titled “Kurdish Nationalism in Theater: Performance, Politics and Resistance in Iraqi Kurdistan” by author Mari R. Rostami has been published. The book, translated from English by Hikmet İlhan, has been released by Avesta Publishing.
Book Content
The book reveals that theater in Iraqi Kurdistan has been used as a tool for national identity building and modernization from the 1920s until today. Literacy, education, and women’s rights have been promoted through theater.
According to the book, Kurdish theater, which incorporates folklore, legends, and regional history, has become one of the most visible elements of Kurdish cultural nationalism. Over time, theater included criticisms against feudalism and monarchy and became part of a broader political movement that led to the overthrow of the monarchy in 1958.
Resistance and Censorship
Between 1975-1991, despite the severe censorship of the Baath regime, Kurdish theater continued by using folk culture, literature, and Kurdish history. This helped maintain Kurdish nationalism and resistance.
This book, one of the first dedicated to Kurdish theater, is built upon dramatic texts from that period, interviews with theater artists, historical documents, and journalism sources. Additionally, the book demonstrates how theater contributed to the Kurdish national struggle and responded to political changes in different historical periods.
04/28/2025
Writer: Botan Times
Sources: Avesta Publishing, Botan Times
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