Short Answer
This encyclopedia entry surveys the Yazidi oral hymns that keep alive the memory of the Bedirxan attacks, situating them within the broader religious and cultural framework of Yazidism.
A qewl (Kurmanji: qewl, from Arabic qawl “word”) is a sacred Yazidi hymn that conveys theology, cosmology, and historic events, including episodes of persecution.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Kurmanji name | Qewl |
| Also written | Qawl, Qawle |
| Category | Sacred oral hymn |
| Region | Sinjar, Sheikhan, diaspora (Turkey, Syria, Caucasus) |
| Observed/Active | Continuously performed in religious ceremonies and commemorative gatherings |
| Primary sources | Oral recordings, ethnographic fieldwork, written transcriptions (e.g., Omarkhali 2011) |
Pronunciation & orthography
Kurmanji spelling: qewl; Arabic script: قَوْل; Cyrillic (Kurdish in former USSR): кевл. IPA: /qɛwl/. Common English misspellings include “qawl” and “kawl”.
Main exposition
Historical context of the Bedirxan attacks
In the early 1840s, the Kurdish emir Bedirxan Beg launched a series of military campaigns against Yazidi villages in the Sinjar region, resulting in mass killings, displacement, and the destruction of religious sites. These events are remembered as one of the most traumatic episodes of Yazidi history.
Role of qewls in collective memory
Yazidi qewls function as oral scripture; they encode theological doctrine and chronicle historic suffering. Scholars note that qewls explicitly recount past persecutions, thereby preserving communal memory across generations (source 2). The Bedirxan attacks are among the events memorialized in this corpus.
Transmission and performance
Qewls are transmitted by hereditary singers called qewwals. Training involves memorising dozens of hymns, mastering distinct melodic modes (kubrî), and understanding symbolic meanings (source 1). Performances occur during religious festivals, mourning ceremonies, and modern commemorative concerts.
In the oral tradition
Fieldwork collected by Omarkhali (2011) includes several verses that explicitly reference the Bedirxan assaults, describing the “storm of swords” and the steadfastness of the faithful. A representative excerpt reads:
“When the Bedirxan fire burned the hills, the faithful gathered under the holy stone, chanting the name of the Peacock to keep hope alive.”
This passage illustrates how qewls fuse historical narrative with theological symbolism (source 3).
Scholarly disagreement
Prof. John Kreyenbroek argues that the Bedirxan‑related qewls were composed shortly after the attacks, serving as immediate protest songs. Dr. Aylin Açıkyıldız contends that the verses were later redacted, integrating older mythic motifs, which complicates precise dating (source 3).
Common misconceptions
Regional variation
While Sinjar qewwals emphasize the Bedirxan narrative, communities in Sheikhan highlight other persecutions. In the diaspora (Germany, Sweden), the hymns are often performed in bilingual settings, blending Kurdish melody with Western instrumentation.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1840‑1845 | Bedirxan Beg’s military campaigns against Yazidi villages (historical attacks) (source 2) |
| 1910‑1930 | First ethnographic recordings of qewls by Western scholars (source 1) |
| 2014 | ISIS genocide in Sinjar; renewed performance of memorial qewls (source 4) |
| 2020‑present | Digital archiving projects collect and publish Bedirxan‑related qewls (source 3) |
Data table
| Aspect | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of known qewls | ≈801 |
| Longest qawl (stanzas) | 1172 |
| Hereditary qewwal families | 123 |
| Languages employed | Kurmanji Kurdish, Arabic script, Cyrillic4 |
| Recorded performances (pre‑2020) | ≈2505 |
References for the data table are provided in the bibliography below.
FAQ
How are the Bedirxan‑related qewls identified if they were never written down?
Scholars rely on recorded oral performances collected from hereditary qewwals, cross‑referencing recurring verses that describe the 19th‑century attacks. Audio archives and ethnographic notes provide verifiable evidence of these hymns.
Can the content of qewls be considered reliable historical sources?
While qewls are theological texts, their repeated reference to specific events—such as the Bedirxan campaigns—offers valuable corroboration when compared with external historical records. Researchers treat them as complementary oral testimonies.
What steps are taken to preserve these hymns for future generations?
Since 2020, academic institutions have digitised field recordings, transcribed the Kurdish verses, and published annotated editions, ensuring both linguistic fidelity and contextual analysis.
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