An Immigrant Ceremony During The “Habitat Transference” and Reconstruction Process: The Case of Eskişehir Uzbek/Afghan Engagement
Ezginur KüçükdürümWithin the framework of a global and post-modern critique of the world system, contemporary migration and immigration have emerged as pivotal political, economic, and socio-cultural concerns. They are rooted in the intellectual backdrop of 20thcentury social theories, with a specific focus on globalization, urbanization, social structures, and cultural interactions.
Acknowledging migration as a multifaceted, layered process involving both migrant communities and host populations, this process manifests in diverse everyday performances. Humans, as biological, psychological, and sociological entities, imbue the spaces and times they inhabit with meaning through communication and interaction with their environment, employing various symbolic signifiers. Culture represents the meanings individuals attach to these symbols, rendering it a dynamic, ever-changing process.
This study aims to conduct a content analysis of visual and auditory data gathered from the engagement ceremony of Afghan Uzbek immigrants in Eskisehir in 2018. It explores the processes of reconstruction and adaptation within the prevailing dominant culture as a result of Afghan Uzbek immigrants relocating to Eskisehir while carrying their cultural spaces and traditions. The study identifies significant symbolic relationships between Uzbek, Afghan, and Turkish cultures, offering an original contribution through its ethnographic case analysis encompassing themes of migration, immigrant cultures, identity, interaction, and space.
Mekânsal Taşıma ve Yeniden İnşa Sürecinde Bir Göçmen Eğlencesi: Eskişehir Özbek/Afgan Nişan Örneği
Ezginur KüçükdürümGlobal ve post-modern bir dünya-sistem eleştirisi olarak günümüzde önemli politik, ekonomik ve sosyokültürel bir mesele olan göç ve göçmenlik; 20. yüzyıl sosyal kuram ve teorilerinin düşünsel arka planını oluştururken özellikle küreselleşme, kentleşme, sosyal yapı ve kültürel etkileşim odağında çokkültürlü ve kolektif bir temsiliyet kazanır.
Göç olgusunun hem göç etmiş gruplar hem de göç edilen bölge halkı ile içine girilen çoklu ve katmanlı bir kültürel etkileşim/iletişim süreci olduğu göz önünde bulundurulduğunda bu süreç, gündelik yaşamda her türlü performansa yansımaktadır. Biyolojik, psikolojik ve sosyolojik bir varlık olan insan, çevresi ile kurduğu iletişim ve etkileşim sonucu, içinde bulunduğu mekân ve zamana çeşitli anlamlar yükler. Bu anlamlar bir takım sembolik göstergeler içerir. Kültür, insanların bu sembollere yükledikleri anlamları ifade eder ve dolayısıyla değişken, geçirgen ve devingen bir süreçtir.
Çalışma, 2018 yılında Eskişehir’de katılım sağlanan, Afganistanlı Özbek göçmenlerin nişan eğlencesinden toplanan görsel-işitsel verilerin içerik analizini amaçlamaktadır. Bu doğrultuda, Eskişehir’e göç ederek yerleşmiş olan Afganistanlı Özbek göçmenlerin, kültürel mekân ve geleneklerini taşımaları sonucu mevcut hâkim kültür içerisinde yeniden yapılanma ve inşa süreçleri irdelenmiş, Özbek, Afgan ve Türk kültürlerine dair önemli sembolik ilişkiler gözlemlenmiştir. Çalışmanın göç, göçmen kültürler, kimlik, etkileşim, mekân gibi konular özelinde etnografik bir vaka analizi içermesi yönüyle özgün olduğu düşünülmektedir.
Throughout history, human mobility in the form of migration has expanded geographic boundaries, catalyzing transformations and diversification in societal landscapes. Migration can either be a deliberate act or an involuntary consequence of political, economic, and social upheavals. In the contemporary world-system, migration has become a critical subject for examination and discussion. It exhibits diverse dynamics in terms of causes and types. Voluntary and forced migrations, as well as internal and external migrations, influence cultural processes in distinct ways. Especially for those compelled to migrate due to health and safety risks, natural disasters, or conflicts, both material and moral losses are inevitable.
This study specifically focuses on Uzbeks who migrated from Afghanistan to Turkey, shedding light on their forced migration resulting from the perilous conditions and conflict in their home country. Notably, a voluntary inclination towards cultural exchange and adaptation has been observed, particularly among Uzbek relatives who previously migrated and settled in various Turkish cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Eskişehir.
Historically, Uzbekswere brought to different parts of Turkey by Turkish aircraft during the Uzbek genocide byRussia. A review of the literature within the scope of this study reveals that research on Uzbek immigrants from Afghanistan predominantly concentrates on Hatay and Şanlıurfa. The primary area of residence for Uzbek immigrants, particularly in Istanbul, is Zeytinburnu, which, due to its cosmopolitan character, receives immigrants from various countries. However, the immigrant population of Syrian, Afghan, and Turkish origin is notably concentrated in Zeytinburnu.
This research places significant emphasis on making sense of the adaptation processes of Uzbek immigrants in Turkey and their interaction with their new environment. It is evident that, in addition to the apprehension they felt when leaving Afghanistan, there was a palpable eagerness to come to Turkey, primarily driven by the unfavorable living conditions in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has been experiencing deteriorating health and security conditions, exacerbated by the escalation of terrorist attacks, particularly in the context of rising ethnic conflicts. Afghanistan’s diverse ethnic landscape has given rise to ongoing cultural conflicts and assimilation attempts. With its history of conquest by Arab, Indian, and Turkish rulers, the country is home to various ethnic groups, including Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Turks(Uzbek, Turkmen, Kazakh, Kyrgyz), each representing distinct Turkic backgrounds. Consequently, the concept of a unified Afghan nation or ethnicity remains elusive.
In this study, concepts such as space, transportation, and reconstruction hold paramount significance in the examination of musical practices among Uzbek immigrants from Afghanistan during engagement ceremonies. Music plays a pivotal and integrative role in the cultural adaptation process of individuals. In this context, temporal and spatial dimensions serve as crucial indicators and variables in the creation, transmission, and transportation of cultural memory. It is evident that Uzbek immigrants who arrived in Istanbul in 2016 and Eskişehir in 2018 brought the musical practices associated with engagement ceremonies and weddings from their home country and reconstituted their musical traditions in their newfound surroundings.
Findings from this study reveal that Uzbek immigrants from Afghanistan, as part of the process of cultural interaction and change resulting from migration, willingly engage with and adapt to the local dance and music practices in the areas they have settled. Particular emphasis is placed on the opening dance with a Turkish song and traditional Ankara music and dance, which are pivotal components of this adaptation process. The traditional instruments prevalent in Afghan musical culture, including the Rubab, Dutar, Gıjek, Tabla, Dombra, and Duara (Circle), reflect the multicultural ethnic structure of Afghanistan and its interactions with neighboring cultures. This diversity manifests in the incorporation of musical elements and instruments from Indian, Arabic, and Western cultures in Afghan songs.
