Dafydd Iwan

Dafydd Iwan Jones (born August 24, 1943) is a Welsh folk singer and politician from Brynamman, Carmarthenshire. Iwan studied architecture at the University of Wales, Cardiff, and co-founded Sain Records in 1969. He began his career performing Welsh translations of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan songs. In 1969, he wrote the satirical song “Carlo” for the investiture of the Prince of Wales. Iwan served a three-week prison sentence in 1970 for political activism regarding Welsh-language rights. During the 1970s, he issued the albums Yma Mae 'Nghân (1972) and Mae'r Darnau yn Disgyn i'w Lle (1976). In 1982, Iwan toured with the group Ar Log, releasing the anthem “Yma o Hyd”. The track reached Number 1 on the UK iTunes chart in 2020 and 2022. Iwan served as President of Plaid Cymru between 2003 and 2010. In 2023, he received an honorary degree from Bangor University. Iwan performed his final concert at the Llanuwchllyn Festival in 2025.