Ancient tradition of travelling musicians in Dagestan prevented from extinction

In the Republic Dagestan in North Caucasus region of Russia, efforts are being made to stop a part of its ancient culture dying out. Ashugs, or travelling musicians, are hard to find these days. However, there are enthusiasts working hard to keep the trad

There's only one place in Russia where you can still find ashugs – singers of freedom, justice and love. It's a small Alpine village in the south of Dagestan where the Lezghins people, one of 36 Dagestani nationalities, live.

Medet Makhmoudov, a hereditary ashug, explains, “Here in the Southern Dagestan since old times ashug poetry was the chain that united folklore and literature. The poetry of singers-improvisers. Performers like that existed in every culture: here in Dagestan they are called ashugs, in Central Asia – akyns, bards in Russia or rapsods in Greece.”

A skilled ashug is a composer, poet, musician, performer and singer – all in one.

In the old days they used to take part in military campaigns, inspiring warriors with their songs. In peaceful times they taught history, exposed the cruelty of the upper class and the hardship of the poor while also passing on good manners to youth.

Women can also be ashugs. “We sing about love, rural life, about our motherland Dagestan, about everything. But our main theme is our epic hero Sharwili, of course,” Fatima Magomedova said.

Sadly, the ashug culture is gradually disappearing. However, there is still hope. A group of enthusiasts from Moscow has been exploring the local culture and looking at ways of preserving it. They want to promote the music in Moscow clubs and galleries.

Eastern motifs have always been fashionable and in demand from designers, painters and artists. Perhaps, the best way of preserving the ashug culture is by exposing it to those in the West who are looking for something which is both unique and historical.