As part of Tourism Week, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality brought 260 children together with the dengbêj tradition, passing this cultural heritage on to younger generations through an event held in the historic streets of Sur.

The Metropolitan Municipality organised a meaningful event aimed at introducing children to the city’s cultural heritage. As part of the 15–22 April Tourism Week programme, the Department of Social Services, which placed cultural transmission at the heart of the event, brought 260 young pupils together with the stories of the dengbêjs.

As part of the event, organised to connect children with culture and the arts, pupils enrolled at Zarokistan Nursery and Day Care Centres under the Children’s Services Branch Directorate were taken, accompanied by their instructors, on a walk through the historic streets of Sur to the Dengbêj House.

Introducing the dengbêj tradition

During the event, the children listened live to dengbêjs, the bearers of an oral cultural tradition dating back thousands of years. Through the kilams performed by the dengbêjs, the children were introduced to an important element of Kurdish culture.

Held at the Dengbêj House, known for its historic character, the programme offered pupils both an enjoyable experience and an opportunity to learn about cultural values.

Experiencing history first-hand

The children who took part in the event not only listened to the dengbêjs, but also had the opportunity to see Diyarbakır’s historic fabric at close quarters. During the gathering at the historic venue, the pupils joined the dengbêjs in dancing the halay. The event also helped strengthen the children’s sense of cultural belonging.

Raising cultural awareness

The event aimed to introduce children to cultural heritage from an early age. Through such activities, the Municipality seeks to support children’s artistic and cultural development while also fostering greater awareness of the city’s historical and cultural values.