Yusuf Suleiman

Yusuf Suleiman is a musician and singer specialising in traditional Uyghur music. As a musician, he experiments with both traditional and modern musical instruments and as a singer, he is well-versed in Uyghur folk and pop music.

At the beginning of his career, Suleiman toured provinces in the Xinjiang region of China and came second in a regional music competition. Later, in his late twenties, Yusuf participated in music events in northwest China as part of a band, including a TV show.

In 2016, Suleiman moved to Turkey where he created the band Dolan with the purpose of preserving and developing ethnic Uyghur music.

Being Uyghur and a well-known musician, Yusuf Suleiman faced threats, harassment, and the potential of illegal deportation from Turkey back to China.

As a result, Yusuf arrived in the Swedish city of Piteå in June 2023 where he took up the ICORN residency for the period 2023-2025. He continues working as a musician, promoting Uyghur culture and music.