Siya Cheman
Encyclopedia
Siya Cheman is a style of singing practiced by ethnic Kurds that originated in the mountainous sub-region of Hewraman
along the border between Iranian Kurdistan
and Iraqi Kurdistan
. The style was originally used to recite religious hymns by members of the Zoroastrian faith, and later, members of Islamic Sufi faiths. Originally, Siya Cheman is performed without the use of any instruments, with the exception of the occasional use of a Kurdish
hand-drum. Today, the Siya Cheman style is used mostly for storytelling and entertainment. Some modern Kurdish artists have adopted the style and added instruments to record songs that blend Siya Cheman with other Kurdish music.
Siya Cheman is performed in the Hewrami dialect of Gorani
. However, some modern artists have adopted the style for use with Sorani
, which is more commonly spoken by ethnic Kurds.
culture, big dark and black-colored eyes are regarded as a trait of beauty particularly for women. Kurdish
love songs often talk about dark eyes. The Siya Cheman style of singing is often an expression of love - whether love for God or love for another person - and may be the reason for its association with dark eyes.
Hewraman
Hawrāmān or Ōrāmān is a mountainous region located in western Iran or Iranian Kurdistan, which includes the cities of Pawe and Meriwan, and north-eastern Iraq or Iraqi Kurdistan, which includes the city Halabja. The inhabitants of Hewraman are Kurdish people that speak Hewrami, part of the...
along the border between Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan
Iranian Kurdistan is an unofficial name for the parts of Iran inhabited by Kurds and has borders with Iraq and Turkey. It includes Kurdistan Province, Kermanshah Province, Ilam Province and parts of West Azerbaijan province....
and Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
. The style was originally used to recite religious hymns by members of the Zoroastrian faith, and later, members of Islamic Sufi faiths. Originally, Siya Cheman is performed without the use of any instruments, with the exception of the occasional use of a Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
hand-drum. Today, the Siya Cheman style is used mostly for storytelling and entertainment. Some modern Kurdish artists have adopted the style and added instruments to record songs that blend Siya Cheman with other Kurdish music.
Siya Cheman is performed in the Hewrami dialect of Gorani
Gorani language
Gorani is a Northwestern Iranian language, that includes Hewrami, and is spoken by Kurdish populations in the southernmost parts of Iranian Kurdistan and the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Some linguists classify it as a member of the Zaza–Gorani branch of the Northwestern Iranian languages...
. However, some modern artists have adopted the style for use with Sorani
Soranî
Soranî is the name of a Kurdish language that is spoken in Iran and Iraq. Soranî is one of the main Kurdish languages, which are a branch of the Iranian languages.- Name :...
, which is more commonly spoken by ethnic Kurds.
Etymology
Siya Cheman literally means dark eyes in Hewrami. In the KurdishKurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
culture, big dark and black-colored eyes are regarded as a trait of beauty particularly for women. Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
love songs often talk about dark eyes. The Siya Cheman style of singing is often an expression of love - whether love for God or love for another person - and may be the reason for its association with dark eyes.