Gabriel Asaad was an Assyrian folk singer in the 20th century. He was born into a Syriac Orthodox family in the town of Midyat in 1907. Back then, Midyat was still part of the Ottoman Empire.
He and his family witness the Assyrian genocide of 1915. The family eventually fled and moved to Sweden, where Gabriel spent the rest of his life. He died in Stockholm in 1997.
Gabriel loved to sing nationalist songs about Assyria and Assyrians. Some of his well known songs were: Ho Donho Shemsho (ܗܐ ܕܢܚܐ ܫܡܫܐ The sun is shining)
Motho Rhimto (ܡܬܐ ܪܚܝܡܬܐ Beloved nation) Moth Beth-Nahrin (ܡܬܝ ܒܝܬܢܗܪܝܢ Mesopotamia my nation)
Gabriel Asaad will be remembered for composing the first Assyrian song in the Syriac language in modern time; Othuroye Ho Mtoth Elfan l-Metba‘ (ܐܬܘܪܝܶܐ ܗܐ ܡܛܬ ܐܠܦܢ ܠܡܛܒܥ Assyrians, Our ship is on the way to sink.) This song was recorded in 1926. Here are the lyrics and the song itself thanks to youtube:
