Author(s): Banu Mustan DÃNMEZ
In this study, it is emphasized that the relation of “forties legend”, which is represented in Alevi's cem ritual, to the poem, music and dance. In many non-western communities, music exists in a rituel including ‘music-poem-dance’. Alevi cem rituel is one of them. However, Alevis arrange the poem-music-dance according to the forties legend in their own rituals. In this study, it is discussed that an Alevi legend called ‘forties’ referring to the genesis of humanity, and its relation to Alevi poem, music and ritual dance named “semah”. “Forties legend” which is narrated by Islamic actors, tells the prophet Mohammet’s rising to heaven by angel Gabriel, his encountering with the forties (forty person) and his dialogue with them. In the Cem ritual, ‘Tevhid’ means the integrity of creatorcreature; ‘miraclama’ means the prophet Mohammet’s rising with mythological horse (Burak), brought by angel Gabriel; ‘forties semah’ means Hz. Muhammed’s joining to the forties in the empyrean. This study is written to express that the forties legend is a folkloric interpretation of Anatolian sufism and ‘Tevhid’, ‘miraclama’ and ‘forties semah’ existing in the Cem ritual is a contextual prolongation of this folkloric interpretation.
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