Stranbêjî, the Kurdish vocal tradition of Badinan, is closely linked to a small set of acoustic instruments whose construction, symbolism, and regional adaptations shape its distinctive sound. This article surveys those instruments, their material make‑up, cultural meanings, and how they differ across Kurdish regions.
Yazidi qewwals – hereditary reciter‑musicians – are chosen through a tightly regulated family lineage, intensive oral training, and communal endorsement. Their appointment blends tradition, musical mastery, and religious authority, preserving the faith’s oral canon.
Yazidi conversion prohibitions refer to legal measures in Iraq that criminalise attempts to change a Yazidi’s religious identity, intertwining constitutional provisions, the 2021 religious‑identity law, and international human‑rights obligations. The article analyses these statutes, their enforcement, and the broader impact on Yazidi survivors of genocide.
Soviet collectivisation in the 1920s‑30s radically transformed Yazidi farming villages of the South Caucasus, breaking traditional land tenure, prompting resistance, and reshaping demographic patterns. The policy’s violent implementation left lasting economic and cultural scars on these minority communities.
Across the United States, Yazidi refugees and diaspora families have created a network of schools and language programs that teach Kurdish (Kurmanji), English, and cultural heritage. Partnerships with churches, NGOs, and youth councils provide classroom space, volunteer teachers, and curricula that balance integration with preservation.
Yazidi qewls are sacred hymns transmitted orally by hereditary reciters within Kurdish‑speaking families. This article examines their modes of transmission and contrasts them with oral practices in neighboring Near Eastern cultures, highlighting both shared mechanisms and distinctive features.
The 2014 Sinjar massacre forced over a hundred thousand Yazidis to flee their ancestral homeland, triggering a cascade of internal displacement and secondary migration to Europe, North America, and beyond. This article analyses how the genocide re‑configured settlement patterns, highlighting drivers, regional variations, and emerging challenges.
Zêrîn, the Golden Spring of Lalish, is a central element of Yazidi ritual life. The article examines its historical origins, its role in pilgrimage rites such as the mor kirin baptism, and its layered symbolic meanings within Yazidi cosmology.
Yazidi pilgrimage weaves together centuries‑old local shrines and the central sanctuary of Sheikh Adi at Lalish. Annual rites such as the Autumn Assembly draw believers from Iraq and the diaspora, reinforcing communal identity through sacred journeys.
Sacred qewls—cryptic, orally transmitted hymns—serve as Yazidi community’s living scripture, preserving the memory of the 2014 Kocho massacre. They are performed in rituals, adapted after the genocide, and reinforce collective identity and defiance.