BÊDENGÎYA DENGAN Û DENGÊ BÊDENGAN

bêdengîya dengan
dengên ku her tim divê cur bi cur derbikevin
dengên ku nalînan, axînan, qirîn, gazî û gazincan dikishinin
dengên ku ew qas bêdengin dikarin guhên mirovan ker bikin
walê bilind, walê dijwar, lê heman demê jî walê derbeder u birîndar

dengên kur û dur, dengên ku mizgîniya roja nu didin shevê
dengên ku her tim li dijî zordarîyê serê xwe radikin û her du aliyan ve dihejinin
dengên ku li ber xwe didin, seri dihildin u straneki distirin
ji zozan, chem, zinar, desht, chiya u kendalan re
li war û berê egîdan, mêrxasan, serbilind u ciwanmêran

ew dengên ku xwe nadin ji bîr kirin
û ne jî tu kesi ti demi ji bîr dikin
ew dengên ku her tim diviya bilindtir u bilindtir bibuna
mixabin, lê îro mane bêdeng
ji ber wê ye jê re dibêjin bêdengîya dengan

û dengê bêdengan
ew bi xwe cihaneki serbixwe ye, azad e, tenê ye
her û her tishtek tê sehkirin
lê tishtek nayê sehkirin, ji ber ku dengê bêdengan dernakevê
derbikevê jî nivs e, tenik e, pistepist û hindik e

tenê mêri dikarin sehbikin dengê bêdengan
tenê ew dikarin ji zimanê wan fêhm bikin u bersivekî ji wan re bishînin
tenê ew dikarin bizanin ka chi li serê wan de hatiye, ka ji chi derbas bune
tenê ew dikarin heyf u tola wan gunehên bêxwedî, bêmal, bêwar û bêkes bistînin
belê tenê u tenê ew dikarin tishtekî bikin, ger ku ew jana zirav ji dilê wan bigirê

mirovên bêdeng didin ber qîran û hawara xwe ji ezmanên bilind re rêdikin
hêvi dikin ku rojekî jiyan û siud dengên wan jî seh bikê, mirazê wan ji chê bike
ew hêvîye ku her tim xwînê ji demarên wan re derbas dike û jînê li lashên wan de piroz dike
ger ku ew hêvî jî li ba wan ne mine an jî ji destên wan werê standin
ê hingê dengê bêdengan kêmtir û her kêmtir derbikevê u jiyan jî wata xwe winda bikê!

What does Xelef mean?

Xelef is first and foremost a Kurdish name. It has several meanings, but the three most widely known/used meanings are as follows:

1. A bandit, who favors the people that are oppressed, and rebels against the authority. (This is the meaning it has mainly in Botan region).
2. Someone, whose ancestors are proud of his actions/doings. (This one is the meaning it has in the Kurdish regions of Iran).
3. Successor. (This one actually comes from Arabic word of Khalif, and it is pronounced a little differently).

So yes that is the meaning of Xelef.

Also, Xelefê Botî/ Xelefê Bota/ Xelefê Bohtî/ Xelefê Shuvî (all referring to the same person) is an important historical Kurdish personality in the Botan region of Kurdish area in Turkey. He is mostly known for his bravery, and courage against the oppressive Mîrs of his time and the Ottomans afterwards.

There is a very famous song called "Ez Xelef Im" sung by Sivan Perwer, the most famous Kurdish singer, and many other artists. Actually, "Ez Xelef Im" is probably one of the most famous song in all Kurdish regions. Even though there are different versions that vary from region to region, the theme is the same: that Xelefê Bohtî rose against the Mîr of Botan and they fought against each other, but no one won really, because while they were fighting, the Ottomans were conquering the whole region of Botan, and by the time they realized this, it was too late!

There is a Xelef dance that is very well known and practiced in almost every wedding in most of Botan, Amed, Hekkari, Behdinan and Wan regions, and possibly in the neighboring regions as well. It is one of the more nuanced Kurdish dances and not everyone knows how to dance it.

In my next post, I will try to translate "Ez Xelef Im" song by Sivan Perwer.

Until then.