In Turkey , for a very long time, the existence of the Kurdish minority has been denied and suppressed. For a Kurdish female singer and performer to rise above these hurdles is no mean feat.

AYNUR is set to become the first Kurdish singing star with a mainly Kurdish repertoire.

Music and poetry is the core of the Kurdish culture. Aynur grew up where listening to great poems and melodies of the past was part of her everyday life.

Kurdish music is less refined than the classical Persian music, and also has roots in Indian scales and modes. Their tradition has remained unique with very little influence from other cultures penetrating their style.

It is passionate and sensuous music. It can also be melancholic and sometimes tinged with a percussive anger which provides much of its energy. Often it recites a historical event – be it war, a love story, a mother’s love or songs of the farmers. In a lot of it, one can hear stark mountain music. Many of the old folk music is only preserved because it has been handed down from one generation to another.

Aynur’s music consists of traditional as well as original songs and her band uses a lot of folk instruments.

She and her band will be traveling from Istanbul to perform at the 9th Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo.

Most of the time the festival is dominated by men front-liners, so it will be delightful when this sultry beauty takes to the stage with her husky voice and exotic presence.

The Rainforest World Music Festival, winner of the Heritage and Culture PATA gold award 2006, will be on from 7th – 9th July this year. It is now tradition that there will be daytime workshops followed by evening outdoor shows on all 3 days.

The festival will have a total of 16 bands – all of them will be playing at least once on main stage, and most will be taking part in the various workshops, some of which would be interactive ones.

Tickets are available at RM60 per day which will gain access to all daytime workshops as well as the evening shows. Children aged 3 – 12 are eligible for half priced tickets of RM30 a day.

These tickets will be available at all the Visitor Information Centres in Kuching, Miri and Sibu. Or call 082-423600 for more information.

The festival’s website www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com will have information and updates about the festival as well as pictures and materials from previous festivals.

The Official Airlines to fly in a lot of the bands is Malaysia Airlines, while the media sponsor is fROOTS which is based in the United Kingdom. The official telco for the festival is DIGI and supporting sponsors are Heineken and Water Genesis.

The Sarawak Tourism Board sits at the helm of the festival while it is supported by the Ministry of Tourism who has also named the festival as one of the Super Events of the country.

Aynur will not be the only band led by a woman. The others are Nahawa Doumbia from Mali and Calle Sur from Panama and Colombia. Three very strong and special women.