Eli Kera

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRShgMNe41g

The village of Elî Kera, located in the Bilbil district of the Afrin region, sits high on a mountainside near the border between Syria and Turkey. The village is known as the home of the Êla Biyan tribe. Its name is derived from its founder, Elî, a man who migrated from North Kurdistan (modern-day Turkey). Because Elî was hard of hearing, he was known as "Elîyê Ker," which evolved into the village name Elî Kera (or Elîkero).

The settlement history of Elî Kera is defined by migration and the consolidation of neighboring groups. Elî originally chose the location for its elevation and defensive advantages ("xwedêomparêz bû"). Shortly after his arrival, another figure named Hisênê Kêlê, also from the north, arrived with his family. Rather than conflicting, Elî offered Hisênê Kêlê land and water, establishing a bond of brotherhood that persists between their descendants. The village population grew as other groups joined, including the Mola Qutû family, who originally inhabited nearby ruins known as Xerabê Mola Qutû in the Gailê Qutû valley. Other families, such as Malê Zine, Malê Çapo, and Malê Hemeş, arrived later, along with migrants from the specific neighboring villages of Qerebaba, Kûra, and Xelîlaka.

The drawing of the political border significantly impacted the village's social geography. Historically, the residents maintained close ties with the city of Kilîs. The border separated the villagers from their ancestral lands and burial grounds. A major shrine and cemetery, Ziyareta Şemsê, was located on the line, separating the graves of the "Turkish side" from the "Syrian side." Consequently, the villagers established a new sacred site within their own territory, the shrine of Şêx Hemze. This shrine acts as a center for religious life and healing, where locals pray for recovery from illness and offer sacrifices during religious holidays like Qurban and on Fridays.

Social life in Elî Kera traditionally revolved entirely around communal sharing. Elders recall that during festivals, the entire village would gather under a large tree in the village center. Notable families, such as Malê Silef (specifically Kalê Hisûvî), Mala Birahîmê Gende, and Mala Mihemedê Hûrîkê, would take turns hosting these feasts.

Water is a central element of the village's identity. The main water source, Kaniya Gund, was historically an open spring near the central tree. In the past, figures like Hecî Tangî and Mamil led efforts to excavate the source from the cliffs (zinar) and channel it into the village using stone troughs. Today, the village remains an agricultural hub producing olives and sheep, but it also sees modern industry; a resident named Ziyad returned from Heleb (specifically the Şêx Meqsûd neighborhood) during the Syrian crisis to establish a workshop manufacturing truck parts from local earth and materials.

The documentary explores the village of Alî Kero located in the Bilbilê district of the Efrînê region. According to the village Mukhtar Nûriyê Elî Hesen, the settlement was founded six to seven hundred years ago by a man named Alî who originally migrated from Çiyayê Gewr. Because the founder was hard of hearing, people referred to him as deaf Alî, which translates to Alî Kero, giving the village its enduring name. The Mukhtar notes that there is also a sister village with the exact same name located across the border in Tirkiyê which stems from the same original lineage.

The village consists of around eighty to ninety households today. The descendants of the founder Alî still form the main core of the village population and are divided into three primary family branches, which include the Hesenê Nûrî and Ebnan families. Other notable residents interviewed include the elder Remezanê Îsmaîlê Cibo and Ebdilhekîmê Numan Merna. During his interview, Remezanê Îsmaîlê Cibo recites an old epic song that mentions the historical Şikik and Qeregêç tribes. The community is closely connected to surrounding settlements, as evidenced by a woman originally from the nearby village of Xelîl Ako who shares her experiences living in Alî Kero for over forty years.

A central historical and cultural feature of Alî Kero is the ancient plane tree Dara Çinarê which is estimated to be over four hundred years old. In the past, this massive tree served as the primary gathering place for the community. Residents would hold two day wedding celebrations, prepare bulgur wheat, and host visiting guests under its broad shade. Today many villagers treat Dara Çinarê as a sacred site, referring to it as a ziyaret, and approach it with deep reverence and caution. Another significant sacred landmark is the large hill known as Girê Zaîr which is situated near the neighboring villages of Ze'rê and Bîkê. This site is renowned as a holy place even as far away as the city of Helebê.

Historically the residents of Alî Kero engaged in diverse agriculture by planting crops like lentils, chickpeas, and barley. Today their farming is heavily focused on olive groves, vineyards, and small household gardens where they cultivate vegetables like peppers for their spicy local cuisine. Basic education for young children takes place in the village itself while older students must travel to schools in Qestelê Xidro or Bilbilê. Recently the village has been facing a severe water crisis. The historical village spring Kaniya Alî Kero which used to supply abundant water has completely dried up after new wells were dug in the surrounding lands. Villagers are now forced to manually carry water in buckets from lower elevations which has severely impacted their daily lives, their livestock, and their ability to maintain their gardens.