ZEYNEB ÎSA

Dêrik- The tradition of the dengbêj is a Kurdish oral tradition preserving Kurdish culture. Although the tradition of Dengbêj is practiced by old women and men based on their own experiences or the true stories they have heard, there are thousands of Kurdish young people who want to preserve this tradition.

Sorxwîn Sedûn, a young woman living in Dêrik (Al-Malikiyah), a city in the Jazira Canton of North and East Syria, is one of them. She has been a dengbêj (Kurdish storyteller) since she was 12.

‘I have been a dengbêj since I was 12’

Sorxwîn Sedûn was influenced by the dengbêjs in her family at a young age. “I grew up in a family of dengbêjs. When I was 12 years old, my father taught me the tradition of the dengbêj. I worked hard to be a dengbêj in order to preserve this tradition and Kurdish culture.”

Sorxwîn Sedûn recorded a meval (a genre of the tradition of the dengbêj). “My father encouraged me. He helped me to train my voice. I felt very strong when everyone told me that I had a great voice and recorded a meval.”

‘We must preserve our culture’

Sorxwîn Sedûn has already taken to the stage at many concerts and festivals. “Our grandparents were nomads; they traveled and were known as dengbêjs. I wanted to learn this tradition in order to preserve this tradition. Now, I am a member of the Cûdî Group (a music group) at the Dicle (Tigris) Cultural Center. I have performed at many concerts, festivals, women’s activities and Newroz celebrations. In the future, I want to teach children this tradition and how they can be dengbêjs. New generations should know their culture and prevent it from disappearing. Everyone should know and preserve their culture.”