Semah groups' sustenance and reflection values [Semahlarin yaşattiği ve yansittiği değerler]

Abstract

The dhikr consisting of twelve services performed by the leaders of the so-called dede or baba is called Ayin-i cem in the The Alevi-Bektashi communities. One of the main elements of the secret cem ceremonies of the Alevis who had to live in remote places for a long time, is Semah. Semah groups are founded on the sayings of Pîr Sultan Abdal, Shah Ismail Hatayi and Kul Himmet and performed by specific a number of people consisting men and women called pervane/peyk in the accompany of the zakir in the Ayin-i cem ceremonies. The Semah groups have become a visible identity of the city Alevis by acquiring a new dimension through the migration of the Alevis from the village to the city. The Semah groups, which was removed from the traditional context and whose lyrics and musical elements are highlighted, started to be performed as folk songs by TRT artists and by bards coming from the Alevi tradition in the 70's. The visual aspect of the Semah groups appealing to both the ear and the heart can also be considered as a dance with a high level of aesthetics. In this study, first, the emergence of Semah groups and the place in the Alevis-Bektashi belief system were examined from the written sources. Then, the values expressed in the Semah groups were emphasized. Finally, this study tried to explain the place of the new situation which emerged as the practice of Semah groups as independently from Ayin-i cem ceremonies in Turkish culture. © 2018 Centre - Urbanisation Culture Societe de l'INRS. All rights reserved.