Dafydd Iwan
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Dafydd Iwan (born August 24, 1943) is the president of Plaid Cymru -- The Party of Wales.
Born in Brynaman, Wales, he spent most of his youth in Bala before attending the University of Wales, Cardiff. Dafydd Iwan initially rose to fame as a singer-songwriter, writing and playing folk music in the Welsh language. By the late 1960s he was receiving television coverage both for his music and for his political activities, including being imprisoned in 1970 as part of the fight for Welsh language rights, an event commemorated in his song Pam fod eira'n wyn? ("Why is snow white?") His satirical song, Carlo ("Charlie"), was written on the occasion of the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969.
In the same year, Dafydd Iwan was one of the founders of Sain Recordiau Cyf (Sain Records Ltd), one of the main Welsh music labels, a business he still manages today. Dafydd Iwan is also a county councillor in Gwynedd, where certain of his policies, particularly calls for cheap housing for locals only, not newcomers, have caused some controversy.
Although a county councillor, school governor, lay preacher, board member of several companies and societies, and president of Plaid Cymru, Dafydd Iwan still writes and performs music, including a long standing partnership with the folk group Ar Log ("for hire"). His extensive repertoire includes everything from political satires that have been banned by the BBC through to songs such as Yma o hyd ("Still here") which have attained anthemic status throughout Welsh-speaking Wales.
Dafydd Iwan's long service to the Welsh language led to him being made an honorary member of the Gorsedd of Bards.
He has been convicted many times for motoring offences, escaping a ban in October 2003 on the basis that he needed to drive for his musical and political duties.cy:Dafydd Iwan