THE ASSYRIAN ORAL HERITAGE TREASURES: RAWE AS AN ORAL SINGING

Abstract

This study examines the early beginnings of unwritten Assyrian literature, which originally emerged as temple prayers and hymns expressing worship and supplication to the gods. This heritage was transmitted orally across generations, preserving its folkloric character outside the realm of formal written culture, and later developed into songs that were performed during celebrations and social gatherings. The traditional singing known as Rawe represents the most prominent examples of this heritage, and it remains preserved among Assyrians in the regions of Tkhuma, Tiyari, and Barwar. This singing offers important insights into the social and emotional life of Assyrians in the mountains of Ashur, reflecting linguistic and experiential dimensions deeply rooted in their identity and history. Although Rawe is often narrowly viewed as purely emotional singing, it fundamentally encompasses deeper literary significance. It addresses themes such as courage and manhood, the relationship with nature, longing for a lost homeland, and the experiences of exile and nostalgia. Through concise, rhymed couplets, villagers were able to express profound thoughts and emotions with clarity and brevity. Rawe continues to represent an essential artistic and cultural form, and its preservation and transmission remain vital. It is also noteworthy that Rawe shares similarities with the folk singing traditions of other peoples, such as the south of Iraq singing called ‘Darmi’ and the Japanese ‘Hiko’ alongside the interest shown by foreign researchers in studying it and making comparison between their own cultural singing and Rawe. This study aims to shed light on this traditional form of singing and to help protect this unique heritage from disappearance through its documentation and analysis, ensuring that it remains a shining symbol within Assyrian cultural heritage. Using a qualitative method, this research analyzed a large number of Rawe verses recited by ten individuals aged between 50 and 70 who live in Duhok and the Kurdistan Region. Approximately 700 Assyrian verses were collected from these participants. The findings indicate that Rawe verses are not merely love poems; rather, they vary in their themes and contexts, extending to expressions of nostalgia for the homeland, courage, and the description of the beauty of nature.