BERJÎN KARA

Makhmour- Stories, one of the sources of oral history, have an important place in Kurdish culture and life. Some stories have managed to survive by being passed down from generation to generation. However, this storytelling culture is about to disappear due to recent technological developments.

‘I grew up by listening to stories’

Gulê Özerk, who lives in the Makhmour Martyr Rustem Cudi Camp (Makhmour Refugee Camp), tells stories to children in order to preserve this culture. She grew up listening to stories told by her mother. “When we lived in the village, my mother told us stories on long winter nights. My mother told us that these stories were the experiences of people. When we were children, we did not have no televisions, telephones or other technological devices.”

‘Stories should be passed down from generation to generation’

During the harvesting season for wheat, women used to tell stories to their children while harvesting crops, Gulê Özerk said, “They told us, ‘Come, we will tell you stories and you will help us’. Our mothers used to tell us their experiences and stories.” Gulê Özerk called on all Kurdish women to share their experiences with their children through stories. “Your children should know your experiences. Stories should be passed down from generation to generation. We should preserve this culture.”