Music has played a vital role in preserving Kurdish culture. Poetry, historical narratives,literary works and current events were always sung and spread by troubadours, musicians, or musical family members. "Dengbej" are the singing story-tellers who carried the Kurdish heritage of the poetry and music down through the centuries to modern times. With great determination and despite the odds, the Kurds have succeeded to have writers, musicians and many artist. Every singel artistic element, which was born from the midst of the Kurdish people, faced immense difficulties and underwent harrasment. A single song in Kurdish is considered a great sin, so far as the oppressors are concerned. To this day, many Kurdish artists are killed or sent to prisons.