Edip Akbayram

Ahmet Edip Akbayram (born 29 December 1950 in Gaziantep - died 2 March 2025 in Istanbul), Turkish rock singer, composer, and socialist. He is the founder and soloist of Dostlar, one of Turkey's first rock bands. Due to the polio disease he had when he was 9 months old, he developed a pessimistic view of life. He was subjected to traumas and exclusions throughout his childhood life. Throughout his artistic life, he was subjected to censorship and oppression due to his socialist attitude. Due to the paralysis in his right leg, he was rejected by some groups and organizers due to his limited mobility. He reacted to this situation by saying, "I sing with my mouth, not with my leg!". He arranged folk songs written by Turkish folk poets in psychedelic and progressive rock lines. Akbayram's legacy remains strong as a cultural figure who gave voice to the oppressed and challenged injustice through his songs. A long time smoker, died of multiple organ failure as a result of complications caused by a fall.