Bêxçe

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOax2VTeOa4

The documentary explores the village of Baxçe, situated on a small hill called Girê Biçûk in the Bilbil district of the Efrîn canton. The village is famously known as Baxçe because its abundant water sources, rivers, and springs naturally made it a place of lush orchards and gardens. Historically, an older settlement known as Alkî existed there. After Alkî fell into ruin, a new village was built on the small hill by around twelve families. Some of the early inhabitants migrated from surrounding areas and ruined villages like Tahtikê, Barcêtin, Kûstatiyê, and Qasim.

During the Ottoman period, the village was referred to as Baxçe Qonax because local aghas established mansions or resting places there. Later, the Arab Baath regime arabized the name and simply called it Qonax. Despite these changes, the locals preserve its traditional name.

The village has a deep history spanning two to three hundred years. The majority of the residents belong to the Biran tribe. The community is comprised of several prominent families, including Heyh Hesen, Momû, Hemkê, Qartê, and Şêx Cemalo, alongside historical mentions of Mala Dadî Kopo, Mala Kufta, Mala Cefer Axa, Mala Battal Axa, and Mala Şêx Ismaîl. In the past, the village was a vibrant social hub characterized by the presence of significant figures like Battal Axa and Cefer Axa, who hosted many guests in their expansive reception rooms. Battal Axa and Henanê Qertû were well known as wise men and storytellers, entertaining the villagers during long winter nights.

Baxçe is renowned for its vast number of water springs. While there is only one spring directly inside the village itself, the surrounding lands hold more than twenty springs. Some of the named springs include Kaniya Sor, Kaniya Kawa, Çemê Mîran, Tatko, Çixurko, Çemê Şemê, Gundî Holkê, Kaniya Zêrê, Beryarê Pî, Kaniya Heyder, Kaniya Elê, Kaniya Kewan, Kaniya Çîmê Maran, and Kaniya Elkê. In the year 1935, Cefer Axa organized the villagers to build a water channel by hand, bringing water to the village from a spring located near the neighboring village of Seîdiyê. The village is also known for large plane trees, such as the famous Çinarê Pîse.

The surrounding landscape features several notable hills such as Girê Mezin, Girê Hisalkê, and Girê Hebeş, as well as the valley Geliyê Bariya.

The social and cultural life of the village is rich. Both Sunni and Alevi communities are mentioned in the region, with women like Zelîx, Mewlûde, and Hîkmet remembered for preparing and distributing traditional Ashura sweets during the sacred month. Villagers maintain agricultural livelihoods relying on olives, vineyards, and livestock. Furthermore, the village honors its martyrs, naming the local commune after Şehîd Botan and remembering others like Şehîd Xelîl, Şehîd Şêxo, Bavê Xecer, Şehîd Henan, and Şehîd Egîd.

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THE VILLAGE OF BÊXÇE

10.9.2017

The village of Bêxçe is affiliated with the Bilbilê district, which is part of the Reco area of the Efrînê canton, located 7 km west of the town of Bilbilê.

The village of Bêxçe was built on a small hill. Because the village is rich in water sources from springs and rivers, it became a place of gardens and fields, hence it was named Bexçê (Garden).

Previously, the village was known by the name ((Alkê)). After the village of ((Alkê)) was ruined, about 12 families built a village on a small hill. A portion of the village's residents also came from the village of Tehtka and settled in the village. Most of the village's people are from the Biro tribe.

Nearly 250 people live in the village and there are around 35 houses.

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There are 8 families in the village, among them:

The family of Mihê Hesen was the first family to settle in the village, followed by the families of Mamo, Hemkê, and Qertê. Later, the aghas came and settled in the village.

To the east of the village are the Sarîk spring and the village of Sariya; to the south are the village cemetery, the Kewan spring, the Çîmê Maran spring, Gaza Himê, and Hesalikê hill; to the west are the village of Tehtka, the Bergira valley, and the village of Elî Bega; and to the north are olive fields, the village of Tahlukê, Hebeş hill, and the Zêrî spring.

Se’bê Dewrîş was a place where the NEWROZ festival was celebrated.

There is no school in the village; previously, the teacher Reşîd Hemo educated the village children. But now the village children study at the school in the village of Qestela Xidriya, which is about 2 km south of the village.

The villagers make their living from cultivating olives, grapes, and gardens, and a few families also raise livestock. Additionally, some people work in the institutions and bodies of the Autonomous Administration.

It is worth mentioning that the village of Bêxçe is famous for its abundance of water springs; there are more than 20 springs, among them: the springs of Heyder, Kewa, Çîmê Maran, Qêwir, and Zêrî.

There is a small castle on the hill.

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The village is also famous for its cool breeze that pleases and calms the heart.

There are 5 martyrs from the village:

Martyr Botan, Martyr Xelîl, Martyr Şêxo, Martyr Bavê Xeçer, Martyr Henan, and Martyr Egîd. The village's commune is also named after Martyr Botan.

Betal Axa was known as a storyteller; he and the villagers would spend the evenings with his pleasant stories.

Henanê Qerto and Hesenê Miho were respected and famous people in the village.

In the middle of the village, there is a water spring named ((The Village Spring)), surrounded by plane trees. Cefer Axa, with the help of the villagers, brought the water channel from the spring to the village.

Nearly 800 people from the village of Bêxçe are scattered throughout the areas of the Efrînê canton.