Hêkiçê

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

The village of Hêkîçê is located in the Şiyê district of the Efrîn region in northwestern Syria. It sits between the districts of Şiyê, Quruxan, Rihanê, and Jindires. The name of the village is the subject of two distinct local origin stories. According to a legend recounted by residents, a shepherd named Şêx Poro once saw a girl wearing a bridal dress near a tree known as Dara gûzberiyê. When he called out "Hê kiçê" meaning "Hey girl" she vanished, and the phrase evolved into the village name. Alternatively, the name may describe the village's topography, combining "hêk" meaning egg and "çiyê" meaning mountain, as the settlement resembles a large egg nested in the terrain.

Historically, the residents of Hêkîçê did not own the land they cultivated. Before the governance of the Baath party, the village was the property of Omer Aẍa and Ehmed Axa who resided in the nearby village of Hemamê. The villagers of Hêkîçê worked as sharecroppers (cotkar) for these feudal lords. The elder Arif describes a progression of habitation where the ancestors originally lived in caves (şikeft) located within the village. They later moved into huts (zinc) and eventually built stone houses (xanî). The village was founded by four original families: Delû, Kûrû, Mihê, and Tênê. Later arrivals included the Selîm family, along with a few Arab families and a Kirmanc family who settled there.

Agriculture has shifted significantly over the last half century. In the era of the aghas, villagers grew wheat, barley, lentils, chickpeas, corn, cotton, and sesame. They also operated molasses presses (mehser) to process grapes. Approximately fifty years ago, olive trees were introduced and have since become the primary crop. Water scarcity was historically a major challenge. Residents used donkeys to haul water from the Geliyê Cercemê valley to the east, a task described as very difficult. In modern times, the digging of wells has solved this issue, though the valley itself has dried up.

The social and religious life of Hêkîçê is marked by deep rooted traditions. During Cejna Qurbanê, families prepare traditional Efrîn dishes such as Sermîsok (meat pies), Şûrbadşîr (yogurt soup), and Kutawî. These are distributed to neighbors as charity for the souls of the deceased. A notable resident, Eziddîn, practices traditional cupping therapy (hîcem), a skill he claims has been passed down in his family for two hundred to three hundred years. He treats ailments like migraines (şeqîq) and numbness (distik) using techniques he attributes to the Sunnah of the Prophet. Another prominent figure is Şêx Henan of the Rifaî Qadirî order, who leads religious chanting and ceremonies. To the east of the village lies a sacred site known as Kozê Kurrê or Kozê Qey, linked to the legend of the vanishing girl.

The documentary provides an in depth look at Hêkiçê, a village located between the Cindirêsê and Şiyê districts in the region of Afrîn. According to the village mukhtar, Husên Evdo Mihemed, the settlement was founded approximately 550 years ago. Its unique name derives from the phrase Hêy kiçe meaning Hey girl, which refers to a historical figure named Zenûba. She lived in a massive local cave known today as Şikefta Zenûba.

The earliest inhabitants initially took shelter in the large caves of the area before building homes. The first families to settle included the Mala Alikî, Mala Elmî, Mala Hesenî, Mala Mistê Miho, and Mala Nebo. The original village population is largely associated with the Delo tribe. Oral traditions passed down by village elders suggest some of these ancestors migrated to the region from Meletiye in Tirkiyê. Over the centuries, the village witnessed the influence of various empires and mandates, with locals recounting eras under the Roman empire, the Osmanî empire, and the Fransî mandate. For three hundred years, the villagers have lived peacefully alongside their Arab neighbors. The elders also express pride in the broader history of Sûrî, mentioning notable local leaders like Ihmed Axa Gênc alongside historical political and military figures such as Çîçeklî, Nizameddîn Hisên, Zeîm, Atasî, and the martyr Yusif el Ezme who fell at Meyselûn.

In terms of geography and landmarks, apart from Şikefta Zenûba, the surrounding area features Geliyê Cercem. This eastern valley once housed seven ancient watermills, known locally as Aşên kevin, which were used to grind wheat utilizing the flowing water. There are also older unnamed ruined tombs scattered along the ancient valley paths.

Daily life in Hêkiçê heavily revolves around the olive harvest, though recent droughts have severely impacted the yield. Villagers such as Zeîm Mistefa, Meqbûle, and Celal from the neighboring village of Çeqmaqa describe the harsh realities of agricultural work today. Women in the village, including Sedîqa Sebrî Mihemed and Ewa the daughter of Şêx Kûrû, recount the severe physical labor they endured in the past, such as fetching water and collecting heavy loads of wood. Despite these historical hardships, they share fond memories of their youth, playing traditional Kurdish games like hûkê, tûşe, and çavşironek.

In modern times, the village faces new challenges. The devastating 2023 earthquake deeply traumatized the residents. Many, including elderly women, continue to sleep outside in tents out of fear, abandoning their homes completely despite the difficult conditions. Despite the lingering trauma, economic struggles, and regional instability, the villagers of Hêkiçê maintain profound resilience, a deep attachment to their ancestral land, and a constant longing for a free and peaceful Kurdistan.