Ancient musical traditions preserved in Georgian village

The enchanting sounds of Georgian folk songs are ringing out in a remote corner of the country. People in the village of Chala are keeping the traditions of their ancestors alive, as an amateur craftsman makes traditional Georgian musical instruments usin

The lush subtropical mountains of Adjara are a place where music is a way of life. In the remote village of Chala everyone knows the songs of their ancestors.

The chonguri and the panduri are the instruments that power the folk music of Georgia, and Vano Beridze is man who is helping to ensure that these songs continue to echo the tradition.

He crafts these instruments with methods centuries old. Like a sculptor with a block of marble, he transforms a single lump of wood into something that will produce the exotic melodies Georgia is famous for.

“I saw other people making chonguris and I decided to try making them myself, and I found that I was successful,” Vano Beridze explained.

Vano says wood from fruit trees gives the best sound. After he selects the wood he will use, he hews, hacks and hollows until he is left with something that can make the music of the mountains.

But for Vano making instruments is much more than just a hobby – it is a patriotic duty.

Vano Beridze showing an instruments that reflects his dream for united Georgia

“I made this chonguri as a symbol of a united Georgia, one part is Adjara, this part is south Ossetia, the third is Abkhazia. The body is Georgia, and the strings are the people of our land. We should be singing together: Georgian people are united by their culture, hospitality and feasts,” he said.

For the other villagers, the music made by Vano's instruments does indeed bring them together.

“These folk instruments accompany Georgian folk song and dance. There are many balladeers in the villages nearby and we often gather together to enjoy the sound of the chonguri,” said Davit Bolkvadze, one of the villagers. 

Folk music is a powerful part of Georgian culture. This music, coupled with the deep traditions of hospitality, feasting and Vano's instruments, mean that these ancient songs will continue to ring out across the mountains of Adjara.