Sabahat Akkiraz

Folk music singer, politician. She was born on the 6^th of February 1955 in Yaylacık village of Kangal district in Sivas city. Her real name is Sabahat Akkiray. Her father is Hıdır Efendi from Sivas / Kangal, her mother Zülfü Siyah Hanım from Malatya / Arguvan. She graduated from Esentepe Primary School in Ankara and started her music education in the family. However her teacher at primary school made her incline towards arts and persuaded her father. In this way she produced her first plate at the age of 13 accompanied by the instruments of Arif Sağ and Orhan Gencebay. Later she migrated to Germany with her family and completed secondary school and high school there. Akkiraz who did not quit music met Feyzullah Çınar, Aşık Daimi, Davut Sulari and Muhlis Akarsu during this period whom she mentioned as her masters and was supported by them. After returning to Turkey from Germany she produced her first music album in professional terms under the title “Şafak Söktü” in 1983. During the next years she worked together with artists of Turkish Folks Music such as Arif Sağ, Musa Eroğlu, Yavuz Top, Zafer Gündoğdu, Erdal Erzincan and Erol Parlak. 

Sabahat Akkiraz who is regarded as a very original voice managed to be one of the most famous names of ethnic music thanks to her voice tone, extraordinary skill and hardwork. She participated to concerts abroad numerous times and took part in foreign albums with her works and arrangements. She reflected the importance she attached to Western music to her concerts, as well. In her albums she mainly sang her own ballads, folk songs, and unmetered folk songs. Aside from compilations she sang she also has hundreds of compiled works in her archive.

Sabahat Akkiraz started her professional music career in 1983 and received her first international invitation from Netherlands. She went there and took part in important artistic activities. The concerts she held in France had a great resonance and Mezzo TV prepared a documentary about her life. She sang Turkish folk songs with famous musicians in important concert halls in countries such as Netherlands, Brazil, Germany, Sweden, Morocco, Malaysia, Norway, Spain and Mexico. Her works entered top lists in world music rankings. Her album of complete works were distributed in 16 countries and regarded as the best Anadolu music, which is covered with electronic music. Between 1982 and 2011 around thirty music albums of her were released. Besides she authors compositions and compilations.

Akkiraz prepared with Grand Union Orchestra “Echoes From Anatolia”. In 1999 she represented Turkey in “Women of Tradition” project in “Queen Elizabeth Hall”. She became the first Turkish artist to make a program within “Theatre de la Ville”. She was always appreciated… In 2000 she was selected “Best Ethnic Music Artist of the Year” in France. In 2005 she received “Altın Plak Prize”, in 2008 “International Hacı Bektaş Veli Friendship and Peace Prize”, in 2010 “Altın Kelebek Prize”.

Sabahat Akkiraz was elected Prime Minister from Istanbul’s 3^rd Zone List of Cumhuriyet Halk Party (CHP) in general elections of 12 June 2012 and entered Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). Sabahat Akkiraz speaks German and she is unmarried.