JINHA

RIHA – A group of 100 women who play the traditional Kurdish erbane percussion instrument have joined the thousands heading for the village of Amara to celebrate the birthday of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Thousands have headed to the Halfeti district of Urfa province for the 11^th celebration of the jailed leader's birthday, which has now turned into a yearly celebration of the Kurdish people's struggle. Organizers say they are expecting a crowd of over 100,000.

The giganticerbane group from the Mesopotamia Culture Center first drew attention when they played at the March 8 International Women's Day celebrations that coincided with the World March of Women's trip through Kurdistan. The members come from a range of cities—Diyarbakır, Mersin, Van, Mardin and Viranşehir. They are rehearsing now, preparing to take the stage for the April 4 celebration.

They will dedicate the song "Hewalê Serok" by Aram Tigran to the leader.

"We came to make our voices heard with our erbanes," said group member Hediye Kalkan. "With our drums, our songs and our dancing we want to show the people of the world that we are committed to our leader."

Axin Güneş, another group member, said the fact that the group is composed of women is meaningful. She says women in Kurdistan came to know themselves and their strength thanks to the PKK leader.

"This was a gift, for us, so we wanted to take a step for the leader," she said.

(sg-tt/fk/cm)