Lebanese Turkmens Preserving Cultural Heritage for Generations
Turkmen Villages in Lebanon Preserve Centuries-Old Culture
Turkmens residing in Lebanon have a rich cultural heritage that has been passed down for generations. They have been safeguarding their traditions, folk songs, and Turkish tales for centuries, with each village being referred to as ‘oba’ and their language as ‘obaçi’.
One such Turkmen family, the Gorli family, hails from a village in Lebanon’s Beka Valley. 78-year-old Ahmed Muhammed Gorli, a member of this family, reminisces about his upbringing where he spoke only Turkish until the age of 15. Living a semi-nomadic lifestyle, he was involved in animal husbandry until he settled in the Duris region of the Beka Valley 50 years ago.
Ahmed Muhammed Gorli developed a passion for grinding coffee with a mortar at a young age, learning the skill through his own endeavors by engaging with coffee grinders. He has perfected his own rhythmic technique for grinding coffee, showcasing his dedication to preserving traditional practices.
In another Turkmen village in the Beka Valley resides the Kenco family, with Ammar Kenco being a prominent figure known for his love of singing folk songs. Having learned these songs from his father and grandfather as a child, he remains devoted to keeping the Turkmen musical heritage alive.
Despite never having visited Turkey, Ammar Kenco closely follows Turkish developments and even navigates through Turkish intercity roads on his phone’s map application. The recent earthquake in Turkey on February 6, 2023 deeply affected him, causing him sleepless nights as he felt a strong connection to the country.
Expressing his heartfelt sentiments, Ammar Kenco views Turkey as his family and proudly carries the Turkish flag on his keychain. His ultimate dream is to visit Turkey in person, a testament to the enduring bond between the Turkmen communities in Lebanon and their Turkish roots.
