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Anthropology
Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies

In Cultural Anthropology in Kurdish Folklore

Profile image of International Journal of Kurdish Studies / B E R L I N / ISSN 2751-3858International Journal of Kurdish Studies / B E R L I N / ISSN 2751-3858

2025, Democratic Arabic Center, Berlin/Germany, & College of Applied Interdisciplinary LTD, London/United Kingdom, Vol.3, No. 11

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Abstract

Kurdish folklore is viewed as a cornerstone of Kurdish national identity and a source of information about Kurdish history, revitalizing the language, and producing local knowledge. The collection of oral traditions in the Kurdish dialects of Kurmanji, Sorani, and Zazaki is valued as a step toward protecting and developing the Kurdish language, reviving folkloric vocabulary, stories, and traditional knowledge practices such as agricultural teachings. Kurdish oral literature has its own unique characteristics and historical, social, cultural, and national significance. Folklore plays a role in nation-building, as it is a fundamental national asset of collective memory in Kurdish history. Its positive aspects are manifested in a sense of belonging, linked to the formation of national identity by highlighting life stories and politicizing the Kurdish language and culture. It delves into the cultural and social aspects of the Kurdish people, focusing on their narratives, moral values, and national identity. Its music is also a powerful tool for expressing feelings of belonging, nostalgia, and desire. Dengbêj, a Kurdish oral tradition of improvised epic singing, has received the most attention in academic research. Dengbêj is a Kurdish oral tradition of improvised epic singing. It relies on traditional Kurdish poets, storytellers, and musicians who play an important role in Kurdish culture and heritage. They are known for their ability to recite epic poems, compose new songs, and narrate historical events. Dengbêjs have played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting Kurdish oral traditions, including folklore, epics, and historical narratives. Their performances have served as a repository of Kurdish culture and identity, transmitting knowledge and values from generation to generation. Kurdish poets (dengbêjs) have been presented as guardians of history and culture, and their lyrics, life stories, and live performances offer unique insights into local cultural practices and politics. Present-day Dengbêj songs constitute an important source for investigating the way of life experienced by Kurds on the margins of the (nation-)state. Dengbêj are not just singers; they are storytellers, poets, historians, and philosophers who express their personal experiences, collective history, suffering, and celebrations through song, often accompanied by simple instruments such as the tambourine or tambourine. They are the guardians of Kurdish history and culture, preserving tales of heroism, war, migration, love, and folklore. Their songs, rich in symbolism and metaphor, blend music, poetry, and narrative, and are performed at various occasions, adding a spiritual and communal dimension. Despite social changes, dengbêj remains a vital and influential art form in Kurdish culture. Dengbêj is one of the forms of Kurdish cultural heritage that warrants UNESCO inscription, as this art is based on understanding heritage as a sign of a primitive collective identity. This dossier sheds light on the complex dynamics surrounding Kurdish folklore, its historical roots, its role in nation-building processes, and the challenges faced by researchers studying this subject, including a thorough understanding of folklore and its political implications. It also explores the potential of contemporary folkloric methodologies to uncover narratives of power, oppression, and suffering within folklore texts. These oral arts are analyzed in terms of their characteristics, genres, classifications, musical forms, and other linguistic, artistic, and intellectual characteristics.

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Related topics

  • Kurdish Studies
  • Kurdish history
  • Kurdish Civilization
  • Kurdish Folklore
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