Tuesday 28th May

Dr Stefan Williamson Fa (ONGC)

Connections and Dis/continuities in Contemporary Aşıq Practice in Georgia

The singer-poet tradition of aşık/aşıq/ashugh bards spans a wide geography transcending the borders of modern nation states. Historically, these singer-poets filled the role of both entertainers and bearers of news travelling far and wide, often performing for different audiences in multiple languages. Even in recent history, during the period of hard state borders between Turkey, the Soviet Union, and Iran, the sounds of these bards traversed frontiers on radio waves and cassette tapes. This paper focuses on the current status of Azerbaijani-language aşıq practice in the Republic of Georgia. Azerbaijani-speakers make up the largest ethnic minority community in Georgia. Living mostly in the capital city of Tbilisi and the province of Kvemo-Kartli, also known as Borçalı, Azerbaijanis in Georgia have struggled in the period following independence from the Soviet Union, being caught between changing borders. Despite the lack of state support for minority languages and cultural heritage in the country, poetry and aşıq art continue to thrive in the community and are often highlighted as a source of cultural pride and marker of identity. Through an exploration of resilience and adaptation, this paper seeks to deepen our understanding of the enduring significance of these singer-poets within Georgia and transnationally.