Abdal of Turkey

The Abdal are a socio-cultural group found mainly in central and western Anatolia, who follow an itinerant lifestyle. This lifestyle is closely connected with the activity of music making at weddings. Other occupations associated with the Abdal include tinning, basket making and sieve manufacture. They do not seem to be related with the Abdal of South Asia.

Origin

The three most remarkable characteristics of the group are its close relationship with the Alevi sect, its use of a secret language or argot and its wide distribution. It seems that the name Abdal was associated with Alevi dervishes of Central Anatolia, whose existence is first recorded in the 16th Century. These Abdalan-ı Rum were extreme Alevis practicising celibacy and withdrawal from the world. Their unorthodox behavior led to their suppression by the Ottoman authorities. At least some of the present day Abdals are descended from these groups. The Abdal language consists of borrowing from Persian and other Iranian sources, some Kurdish and Romany with an essentially Turkish grammar. A possible connection with the Romani people is seen by the facts two of their subdivisions are the Gurbet and Kara Domen, signifying possible links with the Gurbati of Iran and the Dom of the Arab Middle East. According to the Abdal themselves, they came from originally from Khorasan in Iran, and are a tribe of Turkmen.^[1]

In southwestern Turkey, the Abdal play a particular role as musicians, minstrels, jewelers and magicians to the nomadic Barak Turkmen, as a dependent group. Abdal encampments are found at the edges of the Turkmen camps. A similar relationship also exists with certain Kurdish tribes. In the area north of Ankara, many Abdal are sedentary, but associated with certain activities as circumcision (a sacred Muslim tradition) and barbering.^[2]

See also

• Roma in Turkey
• Dom people
• Tahtaci people

References