Yusuf Şahin/Hozan Dino

Yusuf Şahin/Hozan Dino — Biography

Hozan Dîno, whose real name is Yusuf Şahin, was born in 1969 in the village of Hoçvan in Ardahan province. Known for writing and performing songs in Kurmanji, he is regarded as one of the enduring names of Kurdish music. His best-known work is the song "Oy Yarê", which has remained popular since its release.

With a career spanning more than three decades, Hozan Dîno has described his art as inseparable from the struggle for freedom. Having lived abroad for many years, he has spoken of feeling at home during his visits to the Kurdistan region.

Hozan Dîno was named "Kurdish Artist of the Year" by MESAM, a first of its kind for the association, in recognition of his contributions to Kurdish-language music and the wide audience his work has reached.