The Kaka’i – also known as Yarsan or Ahl-e Haqq – ‘The People of Truth’

Friday 11th November 2011

St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG

This was the third event Gulan have organised to celebrate Kurdish religious minority communities. In 2009 we organised an evening dedicated to the Yezidis and in 2010 an event focused on the Faylee Kurds. This year’s event celebrated the Kaka’i – also known as the Yarsan or Ahl-e Haqq – ‘the People of Truth.’

Music is a central feature of this religion and our audience heard from speakers with specialist knowledge of the religion and Kaka’i musicians. There was also an exhibition of work by a noted Kaka’i artist.

Speakers

Dr Golmorad Moradi was born to a nomadic Kurdish Yarsan family in Iranian Kurdistan. He is President of the Cultural Association of the Ahl-e Haqq (Yarsan) Community Abroad. He was formerly a lecturer at the University of Heidelburg.

Dr Yiannis Kanakis is a musicologist and research fellow at Exeter University’s Centre for Kurdish Studies. His current research explores the ways that the Yarsan’s main religious and social codes and communal self-perception are contained in, and conveyed through, music – and, in particular, ritual music.

Musicians

Arash Moradi on Tanbour (lute)

Fariborz Kiannejad on Tombak (goblet drum)

Exhibition

We hosted an exhibitionby by Kaka’i artist Salar

Gulan is very grateful to our main sponsor Levenes Solicitors for their generous support for this event.