Ba’ashiqa & Bahzani Villages
Bashiqa district, with its two subdistrict towns of Bashiqa and Bahzani, located in the northeastern part of Mosul District in Nineveh Governorate, is a captivating mosaic of diversity. With an estimated population of 150,000, the subdistrict’s centre is home to approximately 40,000 individuals. The cultural tapestry of Bashiqa & Bahzani is a vibrant one, woven from the threads of diverse religions and ethnicities. With a majority of Yazidis, Bashiqa and Bahzani are also home to some Muslims and Christians. An ethnic diversity is also present, where Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Syriacs, Assyrians, and Shabaks coexist harmoniously.
Religious holidays, such as Yazidi New Year, Christmas, and Eid celebrations, infuse the cultural narrative with vibrancy and joy. Celebrations in Bashiqa and Bahzani are marked by gatherings featuring traditional food, lively Dabka dances, and enchanting music. The unique requirement for religious music during Yazidi celebrations and the presence of hymns during Christian festivities add layers of depth to the cultural symphony. In the cultural tapestry of Bashiqa and Bahzani, folk music is a vibrant expression, woven with instruments like Daff, Shabbabeh, Tabel, Zurna, Metbeg, Rababa, and Tanbur (Saz).
Direct teaching or participation in musical events ensures the art is passed down through generations. In the past, harvesting and agricultural activities were marked by specific songs, though mechanisation has altered this tradition. Local artisanry of instruments, especially for the Daff, still endures, while other instruments are imported, such as Zurna and Tanbur. The artists in Bashiqa hope that the local production of instruments can be more present, which also presents an opportunity for generating income for the local musicians and instrument makers.
Instruments
The Yazidi Daff
A sacred instrument in the Yazidi religion, it is a percussion instrument made from a round, hollow piece of wood with a medium width and features a number of cymbals- round brass plates designed to produce a specific resonance when struck. A piece of cow, goat, or sheep skin is stretched over the wooden frame. Yazidis believe that the one true God, along with angels, circled the universe during its creation using the Daff, hence its sanctity. Yazidis still use the Daff in prayers and religious ceremonies, and those who play sacred instruments are referred to as “Qawwal.”
The Saz/Tanbur
A stringed instrument from the long-neck lute family, also known as the Tanbur. The Saz is present in Yazidi, Kurdish, and Turkish cultures and holds significant importance in popular and religious musical heritage. It consists of a sound box, which is often made from walnut or mulberry wood, and a surface made from spruce wood. It has a long stem/neck made from beech wood. The neck/stem is fitted with black frets called “Dasateen” (the Persian word for frets), which are used to mark the positions of the notes. The Saz is fitted with seven strings, which are tied at the end of the neck using metal pegs.
The Ney
A wind musical instrument made of wild cane/reed, and historically appeared in Egypt, Iraq, and the Levant. The exact period or the first civilization in which it appeared is not precisely known. This instrument is of one reed pipe, and it is distinguished by the length of the pipe, which contains nine knuckles, six finger holes and a seventh on the back. The Ney is unique in that it is one of the very few folk instruments that entered classical Arabic music and became an essential part of the oriental Takht instruments. For the Yazidis, the Ney has a religious significance, and it is only played by the Yazidi clerics.