Medya Cebe/JINHA

WAN - Women have practiced Kurdish traditional singing as dengbêj for years. Raziye Kızıl, one of the dengbêj (singers) ,said, "All the forms of practicing dengbêj are produced from the emotion of women, and they tell of the emotions and experiences of women."

Kurdish traditional singers "dengbêj" sing songs without any instruments. The songs which dengbêj sings are a kind of oral literature. The tradition of dengbêj is the oldest Kurdish cultural tradition. The tradition of dengbêj emerged in the Serhat region and then it spread all around Kurdistan. Dengbej is an important Kurdish literary tradition. Once, dengbêj visited the villages and they spread their songs in this way. Some dengbêj play the erbane (tambourine) or the blur (pipe) while they are singing. But others rely on their voice and they don't play any instruments.

The most known male dengbêj in Kurdistan's history are Ape Qado, Evdale Zeynike and Xirabete Xaco. Ayşe Şan and Meyremxan are the most known Kurdish women dengbêj.

Raziye Kızıl (63), whose dengbêj name is Gazî, has spent almost all of her life practicing dengbêj. Dengbêj Gazî told us her life story. Raziye was born in the Sorp village of Tatvan district of Bitlis. She was married at 14 years old and moved to the city of Van. She was interesting in practicing dengbêj because there were many dengbêj in her family. Raziye says she wants to be a dengbêj like her father.

Raziye sings the songs at wedding parties, despite male oppression. Raziye said, "People liked my voice and they asked for audio tapes. Back then, there were audio tapes and I recorded my voice on them. The time passed so fast. I have four children now, but my love for practicing dengbêj grows everyday."

"We should not forget our culture. We must protect the values of Kurdish culture. Kurds must protect the practicing of dengbêj and all our other values, while we are struggling to have our rights despite everything," Raziye said.

(dc/mg/gd)