The songs of iconic Turkish-Kurdish singer Ahmet Kaya will take centre stage this December when acclaimed music collective Kardeş Türküler bring a special tribute concert to London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town.
Taking place on Sunday 20 December 2026, Ahmet Kaya ile Kardeş Türküler will celebrate the late artist’s enduring musical legacy through the collective’s distinctive interpretations. Organisers promise an evening drawing on the longing, hope and resistance woven through Kaya’s work.
Founded in 1993 by members of Istanbul’s Boğaziçi University Folklore Club, Kardeş Türküler have spent more than three decades celebrating the diverse musical traditions of Anatolia, Mesopotamia and the Balkans. Their name translates as “Songs of Fraternity”, reflecting a commitment to bringing different peoples and cultures together through music.
Their repertoire spans Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian, Arabic, Laz and numerous other languages, combining traditional songs with fresh arrangements and original compositions. Respect for cultural differences and the possibility of living together lie at the heart of their work, making them particularly fitting interpreters of Kaya’s legacy.
Born in Malatya in 1957 to a Kurdish father and Turkish mother, Ahmet Kaya became one of Türkiye’s most recognisable and influential musical voices. His debut album, Ağlama Bebeğim, appeared in 1985, launching a recording career in which he also set the words of celebrated poets to music.
Songs including Kum Gibi, Şafak Türküsü and Nereden Bileceksiniz helped establish a repertoire that remains familiar across generations. His music gave expression to love and separation alongside injustice, hardship and resistance, winning him a devoted following among both Turkish and Kurdish listeners.
Kaya’s cultural significance extends beyond his recordings. In February 1999, while accepting a major music award, he announced his intention to record a song and make a video in Kurdish. The declaration provoked a fierce backlash, followed by a hostile media campaign and legal pressure. He left Türkiye for France that June and died of a heart attack in Paris on 16 November 2000, aged just 43. His experience remains a powerful reference point in discussions about Kurdish identity, artistic freedom and belonging.
For those who grew up with his songs, December’s concert offers an opportunity to reconnect with a cherished musical voice. For newer listeners, it is an introduction to an artist whose work continues to speak across cultural and generational boundaries.
Concert Details
Event: Ahmet Kaya ile Kardeş Türküler
Date: Sunday 20 December 2026
Doors open: 7pm
Venue: O2 Forum Kentish Town, 9–17 Highgate Road, London NW5 1JY
Tickets: available via Ticketmaster
Age restrictions: No under-8s. Under-14s must be seated in the balcony and accompanied at all times by an adult aged over 18.
