About Ayşe Şan
Lived 1938 – 1996 (aged 57–58). Ayşe Şan was a Turkish singer and dengbêj, known for Kurds.
Ayşe Şan (Aysha Shan) (1938 – 18 December 1996) was a Kurdish singer. She was also known by the names Eyşana Kurd, Eyşe Xan, Eyşana Eli. She is considered one of the most legendary voices in contemporary Kurdish music.
Her father was a traditional Kurdish singer or dengbêj. Ayşe began singing at local events in 1958. After an unsuccessful marriage, she moved to Gaziantep, where she began recording Turkish songs for the local radio station. She moved to Istanbul in 1960 and recorded her first album in Kurdish. Due to pressure on artists performing in Kurdish, she emigrated to Germany in 1976. While in Germany, her 18-month-old daughter Shahnaz died, and Şan wrote the song "Qederê" in memory of her daughter.
Among her most famous songs is "Xerîbim Dayê". The song is about her mother's death, a sad episode in her life.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Ayşe Şan's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Ayşe Şan?
Turkish singer of Kurdish ancestry (1938–1996)
When was Ayşe Şan born?
Ayşe Şan was born in 1938 in Diyarbakır.
When did Ayşe Şan die?
Ayşe Şan died on 18 December 1996 in İzmir.
What was Ayşe Şan's occupation?
Ayşe Şan was a singer and dengbêj.
What was Ayşe Şan known for?
Ayşe Şan was known for Kurds.
What nationality was Ayşe Şan?
Ayşe Şan was Turkish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ayşe Şan. https://biography.guide/ayse-san/
MLA: "Ayşe Şan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ayse-san/.
Chicago: "Ayşe Şan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ayse-san/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-25 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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