Dengbêj

Dengbêj (Kurdish: دەنگبێژ) is a Kurdish music genre sung by Dengbêjs (singing storytellers). There have been many terms to describe Dengbêjs throughout history, and today, several singing storytellers use Dengbêj as part of their own artistic name. Dengbêjs are viewed as a way to transmit the traditions of their Kurdish ancestors in times as it was not possible to publish in Kurdish or about Kurdish history. Since many documents about certain Kurdish events do not exist, there are attempts to analyze them through the songs of the Dengbêjs. Their songs pertain to Kurdish geography, history, and recent events, but also lullabies and love songs.