# List of Kurdish poets and authors

The following is a list of Kurdish poets and authors:

## 9th century

* Balool

## 10th-15th century

* Evdilsemedê Babek (972–1019)
* Ali Hariri (1009–1079/80)
* Mele Perîşan (1356–1431)
* Mela Huseynê Bateyî (1417–1495)

## 16th century

* Sherefxan Bidlisi (1543–1599)
* Şêx Şemsedînê Exlatî (1558–1674)
* Melayê Cizîrî (1570–1640)
* Asenath Barzani (1590–1670)
* Feqiyê Teyran (1590–1660)
* Yusuf Yaska (1592–1636)
* Elî Teremaxî

## 17th century

* Mistefa Bêsaranî (1642–1701)
* Ahmad Khani (1651–1707)
* Shaykh Mustafa Takhtayi

## 18th century

* Khana Qubadi (1700–1759), classic poet from southeastern Kurdistan, Iran.
* Almas Khan-e Kanoule'ei (1706-1777), classic poet and author of Kurdish Shahnameh.
* Marif Nodeyi (1753–1838/9)
* Xelîlê Sêrtî (1754–1843)
* Khulam Rada Khan Arkawazi (1765-1834), classic poet and ascetic from southeastern Kurdistan, Iran.
* Khâlid-i Shahrazuri (1779–1827)
* Şeyda Hewramî (1784–1852)
* Mahmud Bayazidi (1797–1859)
* Nalî (1797/1800–1855/6)
* Yaqub Maydashti (1799–1871), classic poet from southeastern Kurdistan, Iran.

## 19th century

* Mastoura Ardalan (1805–1848), poet and historiographer.
* Mawlawi Tawagozi (1806–1882), poet and Sufi.
* Haji Qadir Koyi (1817–1897), poet.
* Mahwi (1830–1906), poet and Sufi.
* Sheikh Rezza Talabani (1835–1910), Iraq.
* Wafaei (1844–1902) poet, Iran.
* Edeb (1860–1918), poet, Iran

## 20th century

* Piramerd (1867–1950), poet, writer, novelist and journalist, Iraqi Kurdistan.
* Muhamed Amin Zaki (1880–1948), writer, historian and politician, Iraqi Kurdistan.
* Taufiq Wahby (1891–1984), writer and linguist, Iraq.
* Celadet Bedir Khan (Celadet Alî Bedirxan), (1893–1951), linguist, journalist and politician, founder of the Latin-based Kurdish alphabet.
* Nuri Barzinji (1896–1958), poet, Iraqi Kurdistan.
* Arab Shamilov (Erebê Şemo) (1897–1978), writer and novelist, Armenia.
* Rafiq Hilmi (1898–1960), writer, literary analyst and politician, Iraq.
* Muhammad Wali Kermashani (1901-?), poet, Iran
* Cigerxwîn (Cegerxwîn), (1903–1984), poet and writer, Turkey/Syria.
* Abdulla Goran (1904–1962), poet and father of modern Kurdish poetry, Iraqi Kurdistan.
* Osman Sabri (1905–1993), poet, writer and journalist, Turkey/Syria.
* Emînê Evdal (1906–1964), writer and linguist, Armenia.
* Alaaddin Sajadi (1907–1984), writer, poet and academic, Iraqi Kurdistan.
* Hecîyê Cindî (1908–1990), writer, linguist and researcher, Armenia.
* Qanate Kurdo (1909–1985), writer, linguist and academic, Russia.
* Qedrîcan (1911–1972), poet and writer, Turkey/Syria.
* Ibrahim Ahmad (1914–2000), writer, novelist and translator, Iraqi Kurdistan/England.
* Dildar, (Yonis Reuf), (1917–1948), poet, Iraq
* Nûredin Zaza (1919-1988), writer, publisher, Turkey and Syria, Switzerland.
* Hejar (Abdurrahman Sharafkandi), (1920–1990), poet, writer, translator and linguist, Iran.
* Hemin Mukriyani (Hêmin Mukriyanî), (1921–1986), journalist and poet, Iran.
* Ahmad Hardi (1922–2006), poet, Iraqi Kurdistan/UK.
* Karim Hisami (1926–2001), writer, Iran/Iraq/Sweden.
* Muhamad Salih Dilan (1927–1990), One of the founders of modern Kurdish poetry.
* Shamil Asgarov (1928–2005), poet, researcher on the history and culture of the Kurds in Azerbaijan, translator.
* Emerîkê Serdar (1935-2018), journalist, writer and translator, Armenia.
* Mahmud Baksi (1944–2001), writer and journalist, Sweden.
* Abdulla Pashew (1946- ), contemporary poet, Iraqi Kurdistan/Sweden
* Shami Kermashani (1927-1984), poet from southeastern Kurdistan, Iran.
* Faryad Shiri (1971- ), poet from southeastern Kurdistan, Iran.
* Malak Jân Nemati (1906-1993), mystical writer and poet from southeastern Kurdistan, Iran.
* Khider Kosari (1969–1993) Islamist poet from Ranya, Kurdistan.

## 21st century

* Bachtyar Ali, (1960), Kurdish writer and poet
* Sara Omar, (1986-), Contemporary author, novelist, poet human rights fighter, first internationally recognized Kurdish female novelist from Kurdistan
* Abdullah Öcalan
* Selahattin Demirtaş