Young voices keep the tradition alive at the Diyarbakır Dengbêj House

The Dengbêj House, one of the centers of culture and art in Diyarbakır, is kept alive by the performances of young dengbêjs Serkanê Misircê and Fesîhê Pasûrê, who perform six days a week. As the two youngest among the 24 dengbêjs at the venue, the artists point out that new generations of dengbêjs must be trained to preserve this century-old heritage.

Dengbêjlik, one of the most deep-rooted traditions of Kurdish culture, is being sustained at the Diyarbakır Dengbêj House with the contributions of the younger generation. Serkanê Misircê and Fesîhê Pasûrê, the two youngest among the 24 dengbêjs there, take the stage in the divan six days a week, attracting the interest of both tourists and city residents with the kilams they perform. The artists aim to pass on the heritage they learned from masters such as Reso, Şakiro, and Sidiqê Şêxweliyê to future generations.

Stating that he discovered his passion for dengbêjlik while growing up with animals during his childhood, Serkanê Misircê expressed that he was influenced by a song sung by a family member, which led him to leave all his other work and focus entirely on this culture. Fesîhê Pasûrê stated that he learned his first kilams from his father and began turning the events he experienced into kilams with his father's encouragement and support.

Both young dengbêjs emphasize that young voices must be supported so that the tradition can continue after the current masters. Opened in 2007 by the Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality during the term of the then-co-mayor Osman Baydemir, the Dengbêj House continues to remain open six days a week and welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.