Besna Hazer, who maintains the culture of Dengbej with the songs she learned from her mother, says the songs she signs in her mother language have become a source of patience for her. Besna aims to preserve this culture by teaching it to her grandchildren.

MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Van - Singers, who sing “kılam (song)” and “stran (song of mourning)” in Kurdish oral literature, are called Dengbêj. The culture of Dengbêj has survived today by being passed down to the next generations. Songs sung by women in the highlands and mountains of villages are sung on the stage now. Women of the Serhat region, who stayed away from the highlands and mountains after being forcibly displaced from their villages, have continued to sing songs in their mother language in cities. Besna Hazer is one of these women. She used to spend her days singing Kurdish songs at her home located on the foothill of Mount Erek (Çiyaye Reş). Besna Hazer, who only speaks Kurdish, travels to the past when she signs songs.

“They are my only source of patience”

Stating that she learned songs from her mother, Besna Hazel said, “We used to sing these songs in the village, in the highlands, and when we went to milk the cows. At that time, everyone knew songs and we used to sing songs with our friends. Then we were forcibly displaced from the village to the city. We don’t have highlands or animals here. I have spent time singing songs in the yard of my house for years. They are my only source of patience. I teach this culture to my children and grandchildren as I learned it from my mother.”

“I love speaking Kurdish and signing Kurdish songs”

Underlining that she only sings Kurdish songs, Besna Hazel said, “I only speak Kurdish. If I could speak other languages, I would sign only Kurdish songs. Because Kurdish is my mother language. Singing Kurdish songs makes me happy more than anything. I love speaking Kurdish and signing Kurdish songs.”