Hiner Saleem's 'Concert for the Deaf' Published in Kurdish for First Time
Kurdish filmmaker Hiner Saleem releases his fourth novel, Concert for the Deaf, in Kurdish for the first time, urging greater reading and linguistic understanding.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Kurdish filmmaker and novelist Hiner Saleem has released a Kurdish-language edition of his novel Concert for the Deaf, bringing a work previously published in French to readers in his mother tongue for the first time.
The publication was marked by a book-signing ceremony at the Youth Center on Thursday, Nov. 12, attended by readers and members of the cultural and intellectual community. The event celebrated the new edition while drawing attention to Saleem's wider appeal for greater engagement with Kurdish literature and language.
Speaking to Kurdistan24, Saleem said the book is his fourth novel. Although he is widely known for his films, writing has long been another part of his creative work. He said he has written more than 30 screenplays, alongside his published novels.
Concert for the Deaf first appeared in French and has now been translated into Kurdish. According to Saleem, the novel is also expected to appear in three additional languages in the near future, with further translations anticipated over the next two months.
The Kurdish edition is particularly meaningful in light of the author's comments on the importance of reading and strengthening the mother tongue. Rather than speaking only about the reach of his own work, Saleem emphasized the role of readers in sustaining a language and ensuring that its vocabulary continues to develop.
He expressed hope that Kurdish would grow richer over time and that more Kurdish people would make reading a regular part of their lives.
"It is important for Kurds to understand one another's dialects and terminology and to become familiar with them," Saleem told Kurdistan24.
His remarks highlighted the diversity within Kurdish itself. By encouraging familiarity with different dialects and expressions, he presented reading as one way for Kurdish speakers to deepen their understanding of one another.
A Literary Career Beyond Cinema
Saleem's career extends across filmmaking, screenwriting and fiction. His writing has also reached audiences beyond Kurdish-speaking communities through translation into other languages.
Among his best-known literary works is My Father's Rifle, which has been translated into more than 20 languages. That international readership reflects the circulation of his writing beyond the language in which a particular work first appears.
With Concert for the Deaf, the direction of translation has particular significance: a novel initially issued in French is now available in Kurdish, allowing readers to encounter it in their own language.
The signing brought that development into a public setting, with readers gathering around the book and its author. For Saleem, the occasion was also an opportunity to speak about what he hopes will follow: more reading, greater familiarity among Kurdish dialects and a literary language that continues to expand.
The planned translations could introduce the novel to further audiences, but the immediate milestone is its arrival in Kurdish.