Şêx Mihemed - Çema

General Information

Also Known As

Şêx Mihemed, Sheikh Muhammed shrine, Şêx Mihemed shrine, Ziyareta Şêx Mihemed, Sheikh Mohammed

Type

Ziyareta

Nahiya (Subdistrict)

Şera

Village or Nearby Villages

Çema

Şêx Mihemed is a shrine of Çema in the Şera sub-district.

This is one of several separate shrines in the Afrin region that share the name. The others are:

Physical & Landscape Features

The shrine stands at the top of Çema, on the western side of the village. A village woman interviewed in the Ax û Welat visit to Çema (Episode 952) describes it as an ancient shrine.1

Ritual Practices & Beliefs

The people of the village visit the shrine on Friday evenings to light candles and pray for their wishes. They name their children Şêx Mihemed after it, and the woman says about half the village carries the name.2

Transcripts

Çema (Ax û Welat – Episode 952):

  • 24:58 – The host crosses to the shrine and a village woman tells its history.
  • 25:48 – The woman gives the shrine's name, Şêx Mihemed, an ancient shrine after which villagers name their children.

Videography

Çema (Ax û Welat – Episode 952): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxDx9W2dsUw

Bibliography

References

  1. Ax û Welat, "Çema," Episode 952, at 24:58. Kurdish quote: "ziyaretê me ziyareta qedîm e." English translation: "Our shrine is an ancient shrine." ↩

  2. Ax û Welat, "Çema," Episode 952 (village Çema), YouTube video, at 25:48–26:00, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxDx9W2dsUw. Kurdish quote: "Navê ziyaretê me Şêx Mihemed e. Em qicikê xwe pê nav dikin." English translation: "The name of our shrine is Şêx Mihemed. We name our children after it." Kurdish quote: "Yanî her nîvê gund Şêx Mihemed e." English translation: "About half the village is named Şêx Mihemed." ↩