Dafydd Iwan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dafydd Iwan
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Dafydd Iwan Jones
24 August 1943 Brynamman, Carmarthenshire, Wales
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| Years active | Late 1960s–present |
| Known for | President of Plaid Cymru |
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Notable work
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"Yma o Hyd" (1983) |
| Relatives | Huw Ceredig (brother) Alun Ffred Jones (brother) |
Dafydd Iwan Jones (born 24 August 1943) is a well-known Welsh singer and politician. He became famous for writing and singing folk music in the Welsh language. He is also a strong supporter of Welsh nationalism, which means he believes in the importance of Wales and its culture.
From 2003 to 2010, Dafydd Iwan was the president of Plaid Cymru. This is a political party that works for Wales to have more control over its own affairs, including the idea of Welsh independence from the UK.
Contents
Early Life and Family Roots
Dafydd Iwan Jones was born in Brynamman, a town in Carmarthenshire, Wales. He was one of four brothers. His siblings include the actor Huw Ceredig and the politician Alun Ffred Jones.
His grandfather, Fred Jones, was part of a famous family of poets and singers called Teulu'r Cilie. He was also one of the people who helped start the Plaid Cymru political party. Dafydd Iwan spent most of his childhood in Bala in Gwynedd. Later, he studied architecture at the University of Wales, Cardiff.
Dafydd Iwan's Musical Journey
Dafydd Iwan started his music career by translating songs from American folk singers like Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan into Welsh. Soon, he began writing his own songs, often called ballads. Many of his early songs had political messages.
One famous satirical song he wrote was "Carlo" ("Charles"). He wrote this song for the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969. Dafydd Iwan also wrote beautiful love songs and new versions of old Welsh folk tunes.
Music and Welsh Language Rights
By the late 1960s, Dafydd Iwan was appearing on television. People knew him for his music and his political work with Cymdeithas yr Iaith. This group worked to protect and promote the Welsh language.
In 1970, he was involved in protests for Welsh-language rights. He refused to pay fines for marking English-only road signs. He spent three weeks in prison for this. He wrote a song called "Pam fod eira'n wyn?" ("Why is snow white?") about this experience. Another song, "Peintio'r byd yn wyrdd" ("Painting the World Green"), became like a "battle hymn" for the road sign campaign.
During the 1970s, his songs also talked about world events. These included issues in Chile, the Vietnam War, and the troubles in Northern Ireland. Later, his songs mentioned events like the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 and the Gulf War in 1990. He also sang about opencast mining in the south Wales valleys in 1995.
In 1982 and 1983, Dafydd Iwan toured and recorded albums with the folk group Ar Log. Around the year 2000, he started performing less often, but he still performs sometimes.
The Anthem "Yma o Hyd"
"Yma O Hyd" ("Still Here") is one of Dafydd Iwan's most famous songs. He released it in 1981 to "raise the spirits" of Welsh people. The song reminds everyone that the Welsh language and culture are "still here" despite challenges.
This song has become an unofficial anthem for Wales. It is also a special song for the Wales national football team. In January 2020, "Yma o Hyd" reached number one on the UK iTunes chart. This happened because supporters of the Welsh independence group YesCymru bought the song.
Dafydd Iwan sang "Yma o Hyd" live before Wales's last two games when they qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1958. After the final match, the Welsh captain Gareth Bale and the team sang along with Dafydd Iwan. This performance helped the song return to number one on the UK iTunes chart.
Dafydd Iwan's Public Service
In 1971, Dafydd Iwan used his architecture knowledge to help start Cymdeithas Tai Gwynedd (Gwynedd Housing Association). This group worked on projects to provide homes for local people in north-west Wales.
Dafydd Iwan also helped create Recordiau Sain Cyf (Sain Records Ltd). This is one of the main music labels in Wales.
He was a councillor for Plaid Cymru in Gwynedd for some time. In 1971, he was made an honorary member of the Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod in Bangor. This was to recognize his long service to the Welsh language.
Dafydd Iwan became the President of Plaid Cymru in 2003. He ran for re-election in 2008 and even started a campaign blog called Dafydd 4 President.
On 22 October 2011, Dafydd Iwan and his wife Bethan watched a Welsh football match between Wrexham A.F.C. and Newport County A.F.C.. Dafydd sang "Yma O Hyd" to a crowd of 4,000 fans before the game. The new Wrexham FC Supporters Group, which chose "Yma O Hyd" as its name, invited him to sing.
In July 2023, Bangor University gave Dafydd Iwan an honorary degree. This award recognized his important contributions to Welsh culture, language, music, and the arts.
Dafydd Iwan's Albums
- Yma Mae 'Nghân (1972) (Here's My Song)
- Mae'r Darnau yn Disgyn i'w Lle (1976) (The Pieces Fall into Place)
- Carlo a Chaneuon Eraill (1977) (Carlo and Other Songs)
- 20 o Ganeuon Gorau (20 best songs)
- I'r Gad (1977) (To The War)
- Bod yn Rhydd (1979) (Being Free)
- Ar Dan (Live) (1981)
- Rhwng Hwyl a Thaith (with Ar Log) (1982) (Between Fun and Tour)
- Yma o Hyd (With Ar Log) (1983) (Still Here)
- Gwinllan a Roddwyd (1986) (Donated Vineyard)
- Dal I Gredu (1991) (Still Believe)
- Caneuon Gwerin (1994) (Folk Songs)
- Cân Celt (1995) (Celt Song)
- Y Caneuon Cynnar (1998) (Early Songs)
- Yn Fyw Cyfrol 1 (2001) (Live Volume 1)
- Yn Fyw Cyfrol 2 (2002) (Live Volume 2)
- Goreuon Dafydd Iwan (2006) (Best of Dafydd Iwan)
- Man Gwyn (White Space) (2007)
- Dos I ganu (2009) (Go To Sing)
- Cana Dy Gân (2012) (Sing Your Song) (complete 212 song collection)
- Emynau (2015) (Hymns)
- Ugain O'r Galon (2018) (From the Heart)
