Kurdish woman sings while keeping nomadic traditions alive

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - In the highlands of southeastern Turkey, a nomadic herder sings ancient folk songs while tending her family's sheep, carrying on a tradition that is both an art form and a lifeline for her family.

Shilan Ozek, 24, sings daily while tending sheep in the mountains of the Kurdish-majority province Hakkari (Colemerg). She learned the songs from her parents.

“My mother has been living this life for 26 years. We also come with them to the highlands and spend our lives with them. Our highlands are very beautiful. When spring comes, we come here until schools open. We spend our lives with our sisters,” she told Rudaw.

The family comes down from the mountains in time to return to school in the fall, as education is a priority for Shilan’s mother.

“We come here at the beginning of June and stay until schools open. We stay three months and raise sheep out of necessity. I said I didn’t go to school, but let my children study, and I started this work. I really want my children to complete their education,” said Zeynep Ozek, Shilan’s mother. 

Their livestock are their livelihood.

“I can’t support my children because I have no salary, and our life depends on sheep. No other income comes from anywhere else, only this,” said Shilan’s father Selim Ozek.

“In the winter I am a farmer and in the summer I collect hay and grass. I am very busy with this work, but our life depends on this work and passes by raising sheep and animals,” he added.

Traditionally, many Kurds were nomadic, but over the years most have abandoned the way of life, some by force under government policies. Today, the conveniences of modern life are luring many of the remaining nomads into the cities, especially the youth. Environmental changes caused by climate change is another factor threatening nomadic life.