NÛPELDA DENİZ

Makhmour- The Stêra Zêrin Culture and Art Center starts folk dance, singing and musical instruments courses for children and young people in the Makhmour Martyr Rustem Cudi Camp (Makhmour Refugee Camp) every summer. The center started its courses attended by 200 children and young people this year on June 1. The course attendees learn how to dance halay, sing songs and play guitar, saz and erbane. The center also organizes various cultural activities for children and young people in the camp. A halay group consisting of 25 children attended one of the folk dance courses provided by the center. NuJINHA spoke to the dance instructors and the members of the group.

 ‘Children and young people should learn their culture’

“We have provided folk dance courses to children and young people for two months,” said Doza Kara, one of the dance instructors at the center. Children and young people should learn their culture. We have formed a halay group for celebrations on August 15.”

 ‘The Turkish state attacks our culture’

In her speech, Doza Kara drew attention to the Turkish attacks on the culture and art of the Kurdish people and said, “The Turkish state has recently intensified its attacks on us; it attacks our culture and art. We do our best to teach children their culture and art so that the Turkish state cannot achieve its goal. We preserve our culture by dancing halay.”

‘There is great excitement among the members of the group’

In summer, the Stêra Zêrin Culture and Art Center and the Mesopotamia Movement for Democratic Culture and Art (TEV-ÇAND) cooperate with each other to provide courses in the camp. “Like 200 children, we also attend the musical instruments courses to learn how to play guitar, saz and erbane,” said Rojbîn Otun, a member of the center and the halay group. “Our halay group consists of 25 people and we have worked hard every night for 15 days. There is great excitement among the members of the group.”

‘Women play an important role in preserving their culture’

“We have been learning how to dance halay to preserve our culture,” said Viyan Yiğit, who has been a member of the Stêra Zêrin Culture and Art Center for four years. “Most of the course attendees are girls. We are happy to learn how to dance halay. Women play an important role in preserving their culture. I call on all families to teach their culture and art to their children.”

‘We should preserve our culture and identity’

Dezdar Otun, another member of the halay group, also called on the Kurdish people to preserve their culture and identity. “I have been a member of the Stêra Zêrîn for four years. The Turkish state has recently intensified its attacks on our culture. We respond to the attacks by preserving our culture.”