BIJI: The duo bringing Kurdish beats and stories to the global stage

The pull of Kurdish music is so undeniable, it’s encoded in the language. Beshan, which means ‘with shoulders’ in Kurdish, is the instinctive signature shrug that their rhythms demand. Historically suppressed across Southwest Asia and North Africa, Kurdish culture has always carried a subversive power. But listening to BIJI, the Kurdish-Swedish duo reimagining these sounds, there’s a new threat in the air: their music is so electric, it might just set off a hurricane of shoulder-shaking rebellion. 

Founded by Kurdish-Swedish artist Robin Nazari and African-American-Swedish filmmaker Maceo Frost, the duo is shedding a long-deserved spotlight on Kurdish culture, generously sharing it with a global audience through music, film, and storytelling. Formed in 2019,’BIJI’—meaning ‘long live’ or ‘viva’ in Kurdish—embodies resilience and revival. It’s a space where disparate worlds converge into declarations of pride. Based out of a studio in Stockholm, the two splice Kurdish and Western Asian music traditions with hip hop, Afrobeats, Latin, and dance music. 

“When it comes to BIJI, it was a call for representation, a dual identity: the Kurdish side and the Swedish side,” Robin explains to Dazed MENA. “These two identities are my whole self, but they have not been able to coexist. BIJI became a space where these identities unite, where Kurdistan meets the rest of the world, not separates them.”

Above all, BIJI is about celebrating a culture long systematically stifled. The decision to create the team was an act of reclamation driven by an ardent sense of duty to Kurdish heritage and identity. “Given that the language has been forbidden and the oppression of culture has been a constant in Kurdish history, it’s unavoidable not to feel a sense of responsibility in the diaspora,” Robin elucidates. “At the same time, in BIJI, we have been exposed to so many other cultures and worlds; all these encounters drive us forward and give BIJI life.”

The creative synergy behind the BIJI duo indicates respective dedications to lifelong artistry. Robin is an actor, artist, and poet who first gained recognition in Sweden through the local rap scene, releasing three solo albums that each raked in six-figure streams. He later became an on-screen staple with his breakout role in Snabba Cash, setting the stage for parts in Clark and The Beautiful Game; but his artistic inclination likely stems from something much more genetic.

“BIJI exists because of the strength and inspiration we have gained during our journey, especially from Uncle Hussain, a great Kurdish singer,” Robin says of his uncle, who showed him the magic of Kurdish song. “Growing up watching him sing or hearing him talk about artistry in a sacred way has instilled a sense of heritage and responsibility in us.”

Their music videos—see the electrifying ‘Zigidi’—are visual feats, marrying dynamic, jarring transitions with breathtaking cinematography. It’s no surprise the video earned a nomination for Video of the Year at the Shots Awards. This level of artistry comes courtesy of the duo’s visual mastermind, Maceo Frost, a film director and music producer whose creative roots lie in the kinetic worlds of skateboarding and street dance. Maceo’s creative pedigree is evident in projects like Burna Boy’s 2018 Gold Clio-winning documentary as well as Adidas’ collaboration with HBO’s ‘Too Beautiful.’ This wealth of experience explains how a duo as young as BIJI has managed to produce such consistently brilliant and fully realised work.

There’s a legacy to this duo that is set to bridge generations. “BIJI aims to carry the torch lit by those before us, preserving and contributing to the culture, especially for this new generation,” the duo explains. “We hope to inspire and pave the way for more ‘BIJIS’ out there… if just one person carries the torch forward, we are satisfied, as it keeps the first fire alive.”

Through their music, BIJI aims to subvert stereotypes and unfold the narrative of Kurdistan and the wider region. “We want to share stories about Kurdistan and SWANA from our own perspectives, showcasing that it’s more than just desert, Aladdin, Vice documentaries, and terrorism,” BIJI imparts. Their videos, often shot on location in Kurdish cities, spotlight the region’s diverse landscapes, dialects, and people. Be it their filming of ‘Gold’ in a Syrian-owned shop in Stockholm to evoke Sulaymaniyah, or showcasing the talent of local artists, the duo’s work is deeply entrenched in the community. “While BIJI serves as a celebration and a voice, it is also educational, creating a narrative that is often overlooked in the West. We want to present the homeland that we have seen and experienced.”

They’ve only just released the second part of their album, ‘BIJI Pt. 2,’ on November 29, where they have delved deeper into electronic Kurdish and SWANA soundscapes, featuring the likes of L.A.X and Conducta. The accompanying video for ‘ORIGINAL KURDA,’ filmed during Newroz in the city of Akre, marks the end of BIJI’s first chapter—a celebration of everything they’ve achieved so far and a promise of what’s to come. No longer content with Kurdish sounds on the global back burner, BIJI is ready to forge their way into worldwide recognition. The two are ready to shift from participation to domination.  “Representation has been a recurring topic, and it is an important point,” the duo notes. “While it’s wonderful to be a guest in spaces like clubs, there comes a time when we also want to be hosts. That is what we want BIJI to continue doing.”