Mabeta

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryF5tfYVOc0

The town of Mabeta, located 17 kilometers from the city of Efrîn in the region of Çiyayê Kurmênc, is a prominent center for Elewî Kurds. The name Mabeta is locally interpreted to stem from the word malbat (families), referencing the town's origins as a settlement formed by the unification of several distinct lineages. According to local elders, the first family to settle the area was the Qarpûz family, followed by the Alo, Açûlo, Gûzeleko, Mehmûd Aliyo, and Seyîd Xaço families. Today, the town consists of approximately 700 to 800 households and sustains itself primarily through Zeytûn (olive) cultivation, despite suffering from a scarcity of water sources in the immediate vicinity.

The spiritual focal point of Mabeta is the shrine of Dede Elî, a holy figure revered as a welî. The site is historically significant and is associated with the local Elewî identity, which residents assert was once the dominant faith of the entire Efrîn and Maraş region before Osmanî (Ottoman) policies forced many toward the Sunni sect. The shrine of Dede Elî is also known by the title Pîrê Baranê (The Elder of the Rain). This title originated from a miraculous event during a drought when villagers gathered at the shrine to pray; rain reportedly fell immediately but stopped exactly at the boundary of the shrine's trees. The site is also a destination for healing. One account describes a man from Xims who dreamt of the shrine and traveled there to perform a sacrifice, which resulted in the curing of his son's Pênceşêr (cancer).

The inhabitants of Mabeta view their history as deeply ancient, citing the presence of local ruins and stones as evidence of their connection to the Hûrî, Mîtanî, and Bîzantîn civilizations, whom they regard as the ancestors of the Kurds. Culturally, the town preserves specific local legends, such as the story of Tûsin o (real name Ebdik), an outlaw figure remembered in song. This legend is tied to the visit of a historical figure named Ehmed Agha Şêx Ismaîl.

Religious life in Mabeta is guided by leaders such as Şêx Cûmerd, who identifies the community's faith with the Bektaşî path and the love of the Ehlûl Beyt. He emphasizes the spiritual light of Îmam Elî and the lineage of figures like Fatime, Hesen, and Huseyn. While Mabeta is a central hub, residents note that other nearby villages such as Alkana, Gundê Xelîl, and Xidiriya also contain shrines and tombs of Dedes, preserving the region's religious heritage.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV5LUWyIBYs

The substantial town of Mabeta, located in the Afrin region, is depicted as a historical and administrative hub with a lineage stretching back over seven centuries. According to the host, the settlement is more than 700 years old. There is a specific discourse regarding the etymology of the name Mabeta. The host suggests it evolved from "Malbeta," referring to the four original families who settled there. However, a local elder and primary interviewee, Ismet (also addressed as Ebû Hesen from the Reşkole family), corrects this interpretation. He states the name is derived from "Mehebet," meaning love or affection. He explains that historically, if people were in conflict or could not sleep due to grievances, they would come to this location to reconcile, thus earning it the name associated with peace and affection.

The social structure of Mabeta is defined by four foundational families. Ismet lists these primary lineages as the Alo, the Qarpûza, the Gûzeleka, and the Kopiziya families. These groups are considered the most famous and historical inhabitants. Over time, the population grew significantly, reaching approximately 8,000 people in the past, though migration and current circumstances have reduced this number to roughly 5,000 residents. Other specific family names mentioned during the tour include Seydî Tûpê (specifically a member named Habû), Ehmelî, Mistî 'Eşînû, Ebû Omer, Ebû Ciwan, and the Bilêl family (specifically Mihemedî Bilêl, Hecî Bilêl, and 'Arfî Bilêl).

Mabeta is distinguished by its size and development, described more as a town or small city than a village. It serves as a district center (nahiye) with multi-story buildings reaching four to six floors, paved roads, and educational facilities extending to the baccalaureate level. Economically, the area is known for its olives (zeytûna), vineyards (reza), and fruit trees. The documentary features a visit to the home of Ebû Hesen, showcasing a lush courtyard filled with vegetables and fruit trees, which he refers to locally as "kender."

In a discussion on identity and origins, Ebû Hesen asserts a deep historical lineage for the people of the region. He rejects modern political labels, stating, "We are Hûrî, we are Mîtanî," referring to the ancient Hurrian and Mitanni civilizations. He claims that the exonym "Kurd" was applied to them by Greek philosophers or Romans to signify "lions" or "lions of the mountains," but emphasizes their indigenous roots as Hûrî. The narrative concludes with a call for the diaspora in Europe to return and invest in local projects, such as battery factories or agricultural infrastructure, to support the remaining population.

The documentary explores the historical and social landscape of Qenterê, an ancient village located less than one kilometer west of the larger town of Mabeta in the Efrîn region. Situated on a plateau 75 meters above Mabeta, Qenterê is surrounded by olive groves, vineyards, and fruit orchards. According to local elder Hisên Umer, the village was founded approximately 400 years ago. The settlement derives its name from its distinctive architecture. Resident Elî Mihemed Elî Abû Luqman explains that his grandfather built the very first house in the village, which featured a notably arched and vaulted design. The repeated presence of these architectural arches ultimately led to the settlement being named Qenterê.

The original inhabitants of Qenterê are Sunni Muslims, predominantly belonging to three main families: the Sîbka, the Hemqobo, and the Meşayix. Hisên Umer details that his family, the Sîbka, originally migrated from the village of Yîkolxiş in the Mereş region of modern day Turkey, tracing their lineage back to a founding ancestor named Sîbki. Village headman Abû Kamîran notes that before the recent conflict, Qenterê was home to 150 original families, but today only 75 remain, living alongside displaced newcomers. The community maintains deep fraternal and economic ties with Mabeta, which served as an administrative center equipped with a police station dating back to the French mandate era. Residents of Qenterê rely heavily on Mabeta for mechanical repairs and selling their crops at the local olive market.

The economy of the area is entirely dependent on olive farming, which sustains specialized local trades. Blacksmiths like Mistefa operate workshops in Mabeta to manufacture and repair heavy duty agricultural equipment, such as cultivators designed specifically to withstand the rugged, mountainous terrain. While similar workshops previously existed in neighboring areas like Raco, Qitmê, and Cindirês, many have closed due to displacement.

Socially, Mabeta and Qenterê are defined by strong cooperation and mutual aid. In the mid 1980s, 130 local residents pooled their resources to establish a cooperative olive press. This modern facility replaced outdated machinery, ensuring better quality oil and distributing seasonal profits equitably among its members.

Culturally, music holds a sacred place in the daily life of Mabeta and Qenterê. The Buzuq is the primary musical instrument, present in nearly every home, used to express Kurdish folklore and emotions during social gatherings. Traditional instruments like the Dahol and Zurna are also central to local festivities. A local musician featured in the documentary demonstrates this heritage by playing the melody of Memê Alan, an ancient and famous Kurdish epic love story. This enduring cultural spirit, alongside traditional agricultural practices like women preparing Kurdish Nîsk lentils and gathering garden herbs for tea, highlights the resilient identity of the village.

The documentary provides a detailed historical and cultural overview of the town of Mabeta, situated in the Afrin region roughly 82 kilometers from Aleppo. The town has a known history spanning approximately 600 years, with its origins tracing back to the era of the Battle of Marj Dabiq in 1516 between the Ottoman and Mamluk empires. Originally, the settlement began as three caves inhabited by its founding lineages: the Qere Boz family, which is now known as Yisif, the Alek family, currently known as Ala, and the Ebû Zer family. The Tatar family is also recognized for constructing one of the oldest surviving traditional stone and timber houses over a century ago.

The etymology of the town has several interpretations. Some attribute the name to the Arabic word for love, others trace it to the names of the four founding families, and a third theory connects it to the phrase Aal Al Bayt. Historically significant, Mabeta served as the district center of Kurd Dagh under the French mandate from 1921 to 1927. By 1975, it became a subdistrict center administering 46 surrounding villages and farms.

The community is diverse yet highly cohesive, comprising both Alevi and Sunni populations who have lived together harmoniously for centuries. The population, predominantly Kurdish, was around 11000 before the Syrian revolution but has since decreased to roughly 5000, while also welcoming displaced Arab and Kurdish individuals from Eastern Ghouta and Homs. The local society is renowned for its hospitality and its deep rooted social customs. Unique kinship traditions include Şûşban, a lifelong brotherhood pact between two men, Destik, a similar sisterhood bond for women, and Kirîv, a godfather relationship established during circumcision. These bonds are treated as literal siblinghood, prohibiting immediate intermarriage but allowing it for the next generation. Historically, residents practiced strict endogamy and held unique funerary customs such as burying olive branches with the deceased, though these practices have modernized over time.

Agriculture forms the economic backbone of Mabeta, especially olive cultivation. The area boasts millions of olive trees, with traditional varieties yielding high quality olive oil. Traditional Kirmancî culture remains visible in the attire of older women, who wear the ruffled Çirtik dress, the Şaşî headdress, and the Buncî to cover their foreheads. The culinary heritage is also preserved through local dishes like Xorî Xidir, Çî Kofte, and Donak. Through its enduring architecture, agricultural rhythms, and resilient social fabric, Mabeta remains a profound representation of Kurdish agrarian life.