Armenia

I conducted fieldwork in Armenia between 2005 and 2010.

I worked among Yezidis, a kurdish-speaking religious minority. My aim was to understand their narratives of loss and pain. These utterances, which the Yezidis usually melodise, play an important role in funerals and mourning ceremonies, as well as in their daily life. This has been the topic of my doctoral thesis (2010), of my book, as well as of several articles (published in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012).

Orta Çiya village (August 2007)
  • Orta Çiya village (August 2007)
Old grave in Orta Çiya (August 2007)
  • Old grave in Orta Çiya (August 2007)
Old graveyard in Rya Taze (August 2007)
  • Old graveyard in Rya Taze (August 2007)
Old graves in Çamuşvan (April 2007)
  • Old graves in Çamuşvan (April 2007)
Yurîk's funeral, Arevîk (September 2007)
  • Yurîk's funeral, Arevîk (September 2007)

  • Next to the coffin women listen to the singer's laments...

Yurîk's funeral, Arevîk (September 2007)
  • Yurîk's funeral, Arevîk (September 2007)

  • The professional trio (one singer and two duduk players).

Alagyaz village (February 2007)
  • Alagyaz village (February 2007)
Alagyaz village (February 2007)
  • Alagyaz village (February 2007)
Rya Taze village (February 2007)
  • Rya Taze village (February 2007)
Rya Taze village (February 2007)
  • Rya Taze village (February 2007)
Shrine in Derek village (February 2007)
  • Shrine in Derek village (February 2007)

  • Sacred objects are exposed on the ster, the household's altar.

Xidirnebi paintings (February 2007)
  • Xidirnebi paintings (February 2007)

  • During Xidirnebi carnival, villagers draw their wishes on the walls (using flour).

Buildings in Yerevan and Mount Ararat (February 2007)
  • Buildings in Yerevan and Mount Ararat (February 2007)
Çamuşvan village (February 2007)
  • Çamuşvan village (February 2007)
Rexbet's funeral, Alagyaz (February 2007)
  • Rexbet's funeral, Alagyaz (February 2007)

  • At the cemetery...

Rexbet's funeral, Alagyaz (February 2007)
  • Rexbet's funeral, Alagyaz (February 2007)

  • After the burial ceremony, relatives and villagers share a meal.

Graveyard feast in Feriq (September 2006)
  • Graveyard feast in Feriq (September 2006)
Graveyard feast in Feriq (September 2006)
  • Graveyard feast in Feriq (September 2006)
Graveyard feast in Feriq (September 2006)
  • Graveyard feast in Feriq (September 2006)
Graveyard feast in Feriq (September 2006)
  • Graveyard feast in Feriq (September 2006)

  • Villagers and relatives eat together in the cemetery.

Razmik's funeral, Alagyaz (September 2006)
  • Razmik's funeral, Alagyaz (September 2006)
Cemetery in Şamiram (April 2006)
  • Cemetery in Şamiram (April 2006)

  • Visit to the graves...

Wedding in Aygeşat (April 2006)
  • Wedding in Aygeşat (April 2006)
Genocide memorial day in Yerevan (April 2006)
  • Genocide memorial day in Yerevan (April 2006)

  • The 24th of April is a national holiday in Armenia. In Yerevan, hundreds of thousands of people walk to the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial to lay flowers at the "eternal flame".