Şêrko Bêkes (Latin transliteration from the Arabic alphabet: Sherko Bekas; born May 2, 1940 – died August 4, 2013) was a prominent Kurdish poet. He was recognized as one of the most innovative and skilled personalities within modern Kurdish literature and poetry.
Biography
Şêrko Bêkes was born on May 2, 1940, in the Goyje district of Sulaymaniyah. He was the son of the acclaimed poet Faiq (Fayeq) Ebdilla Bêkes and Şefîqe Seîdî Westa Hesen. His primary and secondary education was completed in Sulaymaniyah and Baghdad.
Bêkes commenced writing poetry at the age of 17, with his initial works appearing in Jîn magazine in Sulaymaniyah. He also completed his university studies in Baghdad, where his first book, titled Tirîfey hellbest, was published in 1968. A second book followed in 1969.
During an interview with the writer Mehmed Uzun, Bêkes articulated his interest in modern Kurdish poetry, specifically noting his engagement with the works of Goran and Herdî.
From 1965 to 1987, he served as a Peshmerga and simultaneously worked for the radio station known as Dengê Şoreşê.
In the early 1970s, he became involved with the "Ruwange" movement. This initiative pioneered a new direction for Kurdish poetry, fostering its modernization. Through its manifesto, the essence of Kurdish life permeated all facets of Kurdish poetic expression. Alongside fellow Kurdish writers and poets Husên Arif, Celal Mîrza Kerîm, and Kakemem Botanî, he co-published a magazine titled Rwanya.
Subsequent to the collapse of the September 1974 revolution, the Iraqi government exiled Bêkes to the city of Ramadi in southern Iraq. By 1979, Bêkes had returned to Sulaymaniyah.
In 1984, Şêrko Bêkes participated in the uprising in southern Kurdistan, returning to the Kurdish mountains to serve as a Peshmerga. By 1986, he sought asylum abroad, traveling to Italy and then Sweden. While in Sweden, he became an active member of both the Swedish Writers' Association and Swedish PEN.
During 1991 and 1992, he held the position of Deputy Minister of Culture within the inaugural cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Nevertheless, after two years in this role, he resigned, citing the undemocratic character of the parliament, and subsequently returned to Sweden.
In 1998, in Sulaymaniyah, he co-founded the Serdem Publishing and Printing Institution alongside a collective of writers and intellectuals, assuming the role of its president.
Following approximately three and a half months of medical treatment, Şêrko Bêkes died on August 4, 2013, at Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden's capital, from lung cancer. The esteemed Kurdish poet, aged 73, was interred in Azadi Park in Sulaymaniyah.
Published Works
Şêrko Bêkes composed his poetry primarily in the Sorani dialect. Consequently, despite his personal renown, his poetic works are not extensively recognized in northern regions. Only a limited number of this celebrated poet's works have been translated into Kurmanji.
To date, 20 volumes of his poetry have been published. His works have been translated into numerous languages, including Greek, Turkish, Arabic, English, French, German, and Swedish.
In Sorani Dialect
- Tirîfey hellbest (1968), poetry collection, Iraq.
- Kawey Asinger (1971), poetic drama epic, Iran.
- Min tînuyetîm be gir eşkêt (1973), collection.
- Askîm (1976).
- Kazîwe (1978), collection of short poems.
- Rûbar (1986), collection of story-poems.
- Kursî (?).
- Êsta kiçêkî nîştimanime (?).
- Keşkollî pêşmerge (?).
- Dall (1989), story-poem, Sweden.
- Derbendî pepûle (1991), Sweden.
- Dîwana Şêrko Bêkes, I (Sara, 1990), Sweden.
- Dîwana Şêrko Bêkes, II (1992), Sweden.
- Dîwana Şêrko Bêkes, III (1995), Sweden.
- Mêrgî zam, mêgî hetaw (1996), Sweden.
- Xaç u mar u rojjimêrî şaîrê (1997), novel-poem, Sweden.
- Bonname (1998), poetry, Kurdistan.
- Çirakanî ser Helemût (1999), poetry, Kurdistan.
- Piyawî la darsew (2001), poetry, Kurdistan.
- Qesîdey rengdan (2001), poetry, Kurdistan.
- Ezmûn 1985-2000 (2001), Kurdistan.
- Jîn u baran (2001), poetry, Kurdistan.
- Xom ew wextey balindem! (2002), poetry, Kurdistan.
- Kukuxîtiya bizêweke (2003), poetry, Kurdistan.
- Espêk le perrey gullalle.
Selected poems by Şêrko Bêkes, including "Mil," "Pilûrey x Zayelle: Çwar biray qurbanî leyek mallî Kerkûkda!" (Four brothers sacrificed in a house in Kirkuk!), and "Adan," were also featured in Rexney Çawdêr magazine during 2010-2011.
Translations into Kurmanji Dialect
- A Selection of Sherko Bekas's Poems (1991).
- From My Poems (1995/2001), translated by Rûken Bagdu Keskin and Bedran Hebîb, published by Avesta. These are selected poems from Sherko Bekas's collected works.
- Leave Me Alone, I Want to Go (2007), published by Belki.
- All Poems (2012), translated by Sîrwan Rehîm and Muhsî Ozdemîr, published by Ronahî, Amed.
In Other Languages
Awards
Sherko Bekas received two awards.
- 1987: Awarded the Tucholsky Prize by Swedish PEN in Sweden. The Prime Minister of Sweden, Ingvar Karlsson, presented this award.
- 2001: Received the Pîrêmerd Prize from the Xak Cultural Center in Sulaymaniyah.
Sources
- Yusuf, Ibrahîm, and Husênî, Ebdulbaqî (1993). 'An Interview with Sherko Bekas.' *Zanîn* magazine, issue 7 (1993), Qamishlo.
- Stockholm Public Library (Sweden). *Books in Kurdish 1976-1993*.
- Uzun, Mehmed (1995). *Anthology of Kurdish Literature, Volume II*. Tüm Zamanlar Publishing House, Istanbul.
- Duhokî, Xelîl (2006). 'Sherko Bekas.' *Nûbûn* magazine, issue 82 (2006), Duhok.