Celemê

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8vpDQO72o4

The village of Celemê, located in the Cindirês district of the Afrin region, sits at the foot of Çiyayê Lêlûn overlooking the vast Deşta Cûmê. The village name is said to derive from the Kurmanji words "Cî" (place) and "Lêm" (the sound of rushing water), referencing the abundance of water sources in its history. The settlement is home to a diverse population of approximately 5,000 people, comprising three communities: Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmens.

The history of Celemê is bifurcated into two distinct sites: the current village and an ancient site known as Celemê kevn (or Eski Celemê), located about three kilometers away in the mountains. This ancient site dates back to the Mîtanî and Hûrî empires, evidenced by archaeological remnants such as bull head carvings and rock-cut tombs. A catastrophic earthquake in 528 AD, which also destroyed the nearby Keleha Semanê, devastated the original settlement. For generations, the old site served as a seasonal residence for families such as Malê Koso, Malê Cimo, and Malê Ewê, who would graze their livestock there before moving to the lower village. The ancient area features significant landmarks, including Şikefta Dîbsiz (a cave 40 meters wide), Şikefta Bûyê, and two historical wells known as Bîra Sor and Bîra Kevzê.

Socially, Celemê is defined by specific longstanding families rather than broad tribal confederations. The Kêlxelo family is identified as Turkman, while Malê Emrî (also known as Malê Ebû Na'me) is an Arab family. The majority of the village is Kurdish, including families such as Malê Gedel, Malê Hemoyê Reşo, Malê Sêwê, Malê El-Xazêl, Malê Şêxîn Ebû, and Malê Qereqo Celkî. Historically, the village was under the influence of local aghas (lords) like Malê Betalê Betêl and later Malê Zekî axa, who maintained properties in the area. A unique example of the village's intercommunal nature is Kulfet, a healer from the Malê Mihemed Eyûb family who treats the skin condition Mêristan.

The village is renowned for its agriculture, particularly tobacco (titûn) farming, which follows a strict cycle from planting in January to harvesting in late summer. Residents also cultivate olives, pomegranates, and fruits on the fertile plains of Deşta Cûmê. The village geography is marked by Çemê Efrînê to the west and hills like Girê Admar, Çiyayê Îbiş, and Gulxilo. Water sources are central to village life, with notable springs including Kaniya Hemşerewî, Kaniya Gulistanê, and Kaniya Mercanê. Religious observances are centered around local shrines such as Şêx Teyar and Şêx Mûs.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3EPikudgZ0

The documentary provides a detailed look at the agricultural life of Jelemê (also referred to as Celemê by some residents), a village located in the Çiyayê Kurmênc region of Efrîn. While the transcript does not provide specific data regarding the village's founding date, etymology, or resident tribal structures, it establishes Jelemê as a central hub in a massive pomegranate producing belt.

The economy and daily life of Jelemê revolve entirely around the cultivation of pomegranates (hinar). Speakers describe a fertile corridor stretching from Dêr Belût in the west to Dêr Siwanê, encompassing villages such as Îskê, Xezawiyê, Şadêrê, Bircê, Basûtê, and Kurzêlê. One resident estimates there are approximately five million pomegranate trees across this region. Unlike other parts of Efrîn famous for olives, the "ardê sor" (red soil) of Jelemê is prized specifically for producing high quality pomegranates.

The villagers detail their agricultural techniques with precision. Trees are propagated using cuttings ("sing") rather than seedlings and can remain productive for up to fifty years. Irrigation is a critical concern; farmers utilize wells ("bîr") and have historically alternated between traditional channel irrigation ("cerî") and modern drip systems ("tenqîd"), though high fuel costs often force a return to flood irrigation. The harvest involves the entire family, including children named Ebdû and Ciwan, who work from early morning until the afternoon.

Several varieties of pomegranate are cultivated in Jelemê. These include Lefanî şîrîn (sweet), Lefanî tirş (sour sweet), and a variety known locally as Fransî (French) or "hinarê sor" (red pomegranate). The produce is processed into molasses ("dimsê hinarê") or sold fresh in markets in Efrîn and Heleb, with exports reaching Iraq, Libnan, Urdin, and Tirkiyê.

The transcript concludes with a cultural interlude rather than a historical account. A guest performs a traditional song about Alî Beg, referencing the "qesra rengîn" (colorful palace) and the "birca belek" (motley tower). This song laments the scattering of the Kurd people and invokes the memory of historical leadership, adding a layer of oral heritage to the otherwise technical discussion of agriculture in Jelemê.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_bznq2CGO4

The village of Celemê is situated in the fertile region of Efrîn within the broader area known as Çiyayê Kurmênc. Geographically, it is located in very close proximity to the city of Efrîn itself, lying only about three kilometers away. It is a substantial settlement containing approximately eight hundred households. The primary identity of Celemê is defined almost exclusively by its agricultural output, specifically the cultivation of titûn or tobacco. The entire village participates in this industry, which serves as the economic backbone for the local population.

According to a village elder named Ebrehmanê Nebî Silo, also addressed as Mam Hecî, the history of tobacco farming in Celemê has a distinct starting point. He recounts that in 1974, the government approached the villagers to encourage production. The state provided licenses known as ruxset and the necessary seeds, effectively transforming the village into a specialized farming community. Ebrehmanê Nebî Silo notes that in the past, they cultivated a variety called firne, which involved a fire curing process. However, that method has been abandoned, and the village now exclusively grows the Bêrli variety of tobacco.

The agricultural cycle in Celemê is rigorous and involves the entire family unit. Work often begins as early as 3:00 AM. Farmers plant seeds in a nursery or meştel during the winter months. Once the seedlings mature after about two months, they are transplanted into the fields. The crop requires regular irrigation every ten to fifteen days. During the harvest, laborers, including women and children like the young student Hemûde, work to break off the leaves. These leaves are then threaded onto strings using a large needle called a şûjin and hung to dry for approximately twenty days. A critical part of the process relies on the Xerbî, a specific humid westerly wind that softens the dry leaves, allowing them to be packed without crumbling.

The economic life of the village revolves around the relationship with the Rêjîya Heleb, the tobacco monopoly in Aleppo. After the tobacco is dried and cured, it is pressed into bales known as boliyan or qelib, which typically weigh between thirty five and fifty kilograms. The government supplies the burlap sacks for packing, though the cost is later deducted from the farmers' earnings. While the official price per kilogram has increased over time, rising from ninety six to one hundred and twenty Syrian pounds at the time of filming, the farmers note that their product is usually classified as medium quality or weset rather than premium. Despite the arduous nature of the work, the residents of Celemê continue this tradition as their primary means of livelihood.