Kazim Koyuncu
The restless and tall Kazim Koyuncu hailed from the Laz region of Turkey’s Black Sea. This beautiful province alternates stunning green mountains with a rugged coastline not far from the Georgian frontier. Unfortunately, the 250,000 people who speak Laz are the relentless butt of Turkish jokes, paying dearly for their independent and abrasive nature. Since Koyuncu set off on his music career in 1992, he was an enthusiastic ambassador of Laz folklore and traditions. Describing himself as a “revolutionary” devoted to alternative music, he nevertheless included in his repertory traditional instruments, such as the tulum bagpipes and the kemenc violin. Koyuncu attributed his growing success to a rare ability to sing in five of Turkey’s languages, an attribute which appealed to all generations. In his short but meteoric career Koyuncu stamped himself as one of the leading cultural icons for the Laz people. He died of testicular cancer in June 2005. Many believe he contracted it following the Tchernobyl disaster of 1986