Reyhanî: An Authentic Combination of Music and Dance in Mardin*

• Main Authors: Işıl Altun, Çiğdem Akyüz Öztokmak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cyprus International University 2019-11-01
• Series: Folklor/Edebiyat
• Subjects: reyhanî; mardin; bodylore; body music
• Online Access: https://www.folkloredebiyat.org/Makaleler/1357719344_22-%20Reyhani%20SON.pdf

Reyhanî is one of the cultural values that has been kept alive for thousands of years in Mardin, Turkey. As a form of a dance and a piece of music, it has a ritualistic origin, a traditional folklore of the region that is adapted to current conditions and reinterpreted. The dance can be practiced by men and women and it is expressive of the demonstration of gratitude to God, following the harvest time, of praying for goodness and beauty, and of the oath of loyalty to the beloved. Reyhanî, which is said to get its name from basil plant, is associated with the soothing smell of it, relaxing the audience. That the word reyhan is related to the word ruh (soul), being seen in the narrative of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and that it is mentioned in the description of heaven in the Holy Quran result in the attribution of holiness to reyhan plant and of theological meaning to the danse and music. In this study, reyhanî, performed as a dance and music in Mardin city center, has been handled with its traditional aspects and current nature, through contemporary approaches such as bodylore and body music. Information on the subject has been compiled, analyzed and thereafter conceptualized thorugh observation and interview methods in Mardin province. The probable contributions of Reyhanî dance and music to the publicity of Mardin were emphasized and suggestions were made for these contributions.