Çemê Sey Mamidan (The River of Sey Mamidan) | Vengê Ma

"Çemê Sey Mamidan" is a powerful, driving Kurdish folk song that tells a raw, true story from 1930s Dersim.

The song recounts the story of a fugitive from a rival clan, who is forced to flee into the mountains after a killing. He refuses to hide in the homes of his kin, choosing to live in the wild—the fields and mountains—to protect them. But one day, he is surrounded by militia and soldiers.

He laments not that he is dying, but that his rifle—his "Tifangê Kirmancî yo" (the Rifle of the Kirmanc/Kurd)—has jammed. Wounded, bleeding into his own eyes, he still has the honor to warn his Pîr (spiritual leader) away from the battle. In his final moments, he does not beg; he taunts his enemies, his spirit unbroken.

A NOTE ON THIS VERSION: We first released an instrumental version of this song on YouTube in 2018. We are proud to now share this new, powerful orchestral version. This is the next step in its evolution, and we are still working on an even longer, full cinematic film of story, which we hope to release in January or February 2026.

► SUBSCRIBE for more cinematic music and stories.

LYRICS (Gotin):

-- (Kirmanckî / Zazakî) --
Çemê Sey Mamidan o
Çemê Sey Mamidan o
Bira Hemed, na gavan o
Ondêr teber nêkeno.
Lawo, Xidê Tade ra mene
Cisnê pîr û rayberê tü yo...

Ponc teneyî ginê ro mi
Xo de belî nêkeno
Ju ya gina burîyê mi
Gonî kota çimê mi
Pîr û rayber belî nîyo!

Tifangê destê mi persena?
Martîno beleko newî yo!
Tifangê Kirmancî yo!

Pîro, mi dima yena kotî?
Mal û gayê to mi ver nîyo
Ti ke nêvindena yena
Layiqê canê tî yo

Ti ke hewl a, honde menale
Yê minê mi bîye ses
Yê to hona ju yo

(Çime: Munzur Çem (2003): "Hewarê Dêrsimî".
Arêkerdox: Zilfî)

-- (Kurmancî / Kurmanji) --

Çemê Sey Mamidan e
Çemê Sey Mamidan e
Hemed bira, ev derbend e
Mertê (tiving) derve navêje
Lawo, li Xidê Tadê nede
Ew ji koka pîr û rayberê te ye...

Pênc (gule) li min ketin
Xwe de eşkere nakim
Yek li birûyê min ket
Xwîn kete çavên min
Pîr û rayber xuya nakin!

Tivinga destê min dipirsî?
Martînek nû ya navdar e!
Tivinga Kirmanc (Kurd) ye!

Pîro, li pey min tê kû?
Mal û ga yê te li pêş min nîne
Eger tu nesekinî û bêyî
Layîqê canê te ye

Eger tu biwêr î, wisa nenale
Yên min bûn şeş (gule)
Ya te hîn yek e

-(English Translation)-

It is the Sey Mamidan River
It is the Sey Mamidan River
Brother Hemed, this is the pass
The "Meret" rifle (my gun) is jammed/not firing.
My son, do not shoot Xidê Tadê,
He is from the line of your Pîr and Rayber...

Five (bullets) have struck me
I do not show it
One has struck my eyebrow
Blood has filled my eyes
My Pîr and Rayber are not to be seen!

Do you ask of the rifle in my hand?
It is a new and famous Martini!
It is the Rifle of the Kirmanc (Kurd)!

My Pîr, where are you coming from behind me?
Your property and cattle are not with me
If you do not stop and you (still) come
It (my rifle) is worthy of your life.

If you are so brave, do not groan so much!
Mine have become six (bullets in my body)
Yours is still only one.

#kurdishmusic #dersim #kirmanckî #zazaki
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*About Vengê Ma:*
Vengê Ma is a musical project dedicated to giving a modern, powerful voice to the timeless legends, struggles, and unbreakable spirit of the Kurdish people. Our sound is a fusion of epic, cinematic instrumentals with the visceral energy of progressive music.

Vengê Ma, resnayisê dezê vîjerî hevîya meşteyo, nîya ju raywanîya vîyernayiso pirdanê bimbarekî yo; ju giredayisê dirbet û dejî ebê hevî û raxeleşîyayiso. Vengê Ma nîya xovîrranêkerdena dirbet û dej, nevişîyayisê hevî û resayisê raxelaşîyena. Her kilamê ebê dîyalogê dez, mirozinîye, hevîye û raxeleşîye yena vengdayene. Keremê xo ra bibê aboneyê kanalê ma yê YouTube. Vîdeoyan qayil (hes) û vila bikerê. Weş û war bê!