The tradition of “lamentation”
seen in poets and minstrels is as old as the history of the Turkish
nation. This article aims to explain the
tradition of lamentation and focus on the situations in which laments are
performed by our female minstrels. Our minstrels and poets evaluated in the
article are respectively Makbule Leman, Yasar Nezihe (Bukulmez), Nigar Hanim, Ihsan Raif Hanim, Şukufe Nihal, Emine Hanim, Hasibe
Ramazanoglu, Hasibe Hatun, Dudu Karabıyık, Minstrel
Derdimend (Fatma Oflaz), Fatma Behice Batur, Minstrel Şah Turna, Asik Surmelican (Kaya) , Gulhanim
Yildirim, Hatce Ana (Hatice Şahinoğlu), Dikmenli Emine Şener, Kamanli
Minstrel Emine Baci, Minstrel Fatma Inan , Pîr Sultan's daughter Sanem,
Minstrel Kevser Ezgili, Minstrel Ayse Çağlayan, Minstrel Yeter Yıldırım, Minstrel Gülhanım Yıldırım, Minstrel Nurşah (Dursen
Mert). Female minstrels, who lived and are living in Türkiye in the last
century, contributed to the survival of this tradition by lamenting painful
events that affected them very much.
