Plants and foods as identity markers: an ethnographic analysis on the case of the (Y)Ezidis from Batman (Turkey)

Berivan Can Emmez

doi:10.1186/s42779-019-0038-y

Abstract

Located in the geographical region called Upper Mesopotamia, Batman has a wide cultural diversity. One of the Kurdish (Kurmancî)-speaking ethno-religious communities of Batman is the (Y)Ezidis which have been subjected to several persecutions due to their syncretic belief and practices. The resistance of the Ezidis against imperial powers could be read from governmental manuscripts kept in the archives. The number of field researches conducted in the area of Ezidis in Turkey is quite low. These studies are also concentrated in Viransehir (Urfa) region in which the Ezidi population is more intense. This study, on the other hand, is uncovering the traditional plants which are being used for food and nutrition as well as healing and ritualistic practices by the Ezidis of Batman which has never been subjected in a research in anthropology. Nutrition as one of the necessities that must be met in order to maintain biological existence is also a cultural phenomenon. Food as a part of culture is a configuration of identity and self-expression. The aim of this study is uncovering the traditional plants which are being used for food and nutrition as well as healing and ritualistic practices by the Ezidis of Batman which has never been subjected in a research in anthropology. The primary data of this study was collected during an ethnographic fieldwork in between April 2013 and June 2015 in Ezidi villages of Batman. It was observed that Ezidis unite with the other communities of the region with nutritional methods based on animal products which are common in daily life, while they differ in the use of plants and cereals which are operated in ritual practices. The ritualistic uses of plants and foods and the relations of the Ezidis between the others over food are proposed in this study as the basic patterns of behavior that distinguish Ezidi community from others, define belonging, and mark ethnic identity.

Highlights

Batman is located in the geographical region called Upper Mesopotamia which is regarded as one of the first settlements in human history (Fig. 1)
This study aims to compile the traditional knowledge based on the foods and plants used by the Ezidis of Batman and to analyze the relationship between nutrition and identity of an ethnic group
The aim of this study is uncovering the traditional plants which are being used for food and nutrition as well as healing and ritualistic practices by the Ezidis of Batman which has never been subjected in a research in anthropology

Summary

Introduction

Batman is located in the geographical region called Upper Mesopotamia which is regarded as one of the first settlements in human history (Fig. 1). One of the Kurdish (Kurmancî)-speaking ethno-religious communities of Batman is the (Y)Ezidis They live mainly in the South-Eastern provinces of Turkey, such as Midyat (Mardin), Viranşehir (Urfa), and Beşiri (Batman). (Y)Ezidis of Turkey regard this region which is called Zozan or Xaltan as their homeland. Due to their syncretic belief and practices, Ezidis have been subjected to several persecutions, which (2020) 7:5. The word Ezidi is written as Êzîdî in Kurdish (Kurmancî), and the initial vowel is pronounced like /i/ In this context, it is going to be mentioned as Ezidis in this article

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