Reading and Translating Fanon in Kurdistan

Abstract The translation of Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth (1961) into Kurdish (Kurmancî) opens up new possibilities for engaging with and interpreting this classic work of anti-colonial thought from a Kurdish perspective. In this interview, Sardar Saadi of Rojava University, who was involved in the publication, discusses Fanon’s relevance to the Kurdish question today. Key themes and concepts in Fanon’s work—ranging from the role of revolutionary violence in decolonization to his critiques of nationalism and postcolonial elites centralizing political power—resonate deeply with Kurdish liberation struggles. While Fanon’s pedagogy of decolonization remains highly relevant for Kurdish students, scholars, and activists alike, his analysis also has some limitations from a Kurdish perspective.