Musical storytelling is central to the Alevi faith, with mystical poems and musical ballads (deyisler, nefesler) being orally passed down from generation to generation over many centuries. These traditional folk songs, which can be heard all across Anatolia (modern Turkiye), pay homage to the core philosophy of Alevism, which is based on love, tolerance and […]
A week of events to mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of the British Alevi Cultural Centre and Cemevi (IAKM) culminated with a special night of spiritual music and dance at the Dominion Centre in Wood Green, North London, on Saturday evening. Titled ‘30 Yıl Semaha Durduk’ / 30 Years of Performing the Semah’, […]
The date 2 July 1993 represents a dark day in modern Turkish history where 35 people, mostly Alevi notables, lost their lives in a hotel fire that had been started deliberately. On Sunday, Alevis all around the world, including here in Britain, will again demand justice for the victims. Thirty years ago, Alevi musicians, writers […]
A woman was stabbed and multiple Alevi houses of worship (‘cemevi’) and association buildings in the Turkish capital Ankara attacked and vandalised on Saturday, 30 July. The injured woman was on duty at the Turkmen Alevi Bektashi Association when a man came to the door asking if she was an Alevi and where they prayed. […]
A woman of Turkish Kurdish heritage has been given a top job in Belgium’s new federal government. Zuhal Demir, the third of five children born to Alevi Kurdish parents from Turkey, was one of eight Flemish ministers sworn in during Parliament’s first session on 2 October, following the approval of the new government. Ms Demir, […]
The sun is out, and summer is truly here, so if you’re in North London and looking for an authentic outdoor experience on Sunday, head to Hackney for the annual Alevi Festival. The ninth event of its kind in London, this community festival celebrates one of Anatolia’s biggest mystical faiths through a week-long programme of […]
The southern Turkish town of Kahramanmaraş has marked the 40th anniversary of violence that saw more than 100 people lose their lives. Dozens of civilians were killed and hundreds of others injured during the events of late December 1978, known as the “Maraş Massacre”. The killings were said to have been perpetrated by far-right elements, […]
An Alevi Folk band from Holland will be making their first appearance in Britain next month following an invitation from the youth wing of the Glasgow Alevi Cultural Centre and Cemevi. Vengi Dersim, a trio based in Rotterdam, will perform at a concert at the Pearce Institute in Govan on Sunday 17 April. The event […]
Next Saturday, London’s Turkish community will honour the life and work of Dr. Tözün İsa, who sadly passed away in November aged 59 following his battle with cancer. Organised by the Turkish Language Education Consortium, community members are invited to attend the memorial night, which is being held at Dr Fazıl Küçük Turkish School. The […]
Alevi worshippers in the UK took an important step forward in having their faith recognised following a decision by the Charity Commission to admit the British Alevi Foundation as a religious trust. The announcement was made by the British Federation of Alevis (BFA) at a press conference at the Dalston Alevi Cultural Centre in London […]
