Mersewa

The village of Marsawa, situated in the Şera district of the Afrin region, serves as a historical and social bridge between the Kurd and Arab communities. Located just three kilometers from Kelehane Bîhoriyê and fifteen kilometers from the city of Kilîs, the village rests on the border line between Bakur and Rojava. According to local oral history recounted by an elder, the village name derives from a woman named Merso, also known as Pîra Sipî. Legend suggests that Merso led an ancient tribe in the area as far back as 1400 years before the modern era, facilitating trade routes that passed through to Keleha Rêwendûz.

The modern settlement history of Marsawa involves a diverse selection of migrations. The first family to settle there was Malbata Hesen Axa, though they eventually relocated to Kilîs. Subsequently, other families purchased land and established roots. The Reşîdê Xirxiz family arrived from Qoşo, while Malbata Hemoyê Mêreme came from Qere Tepe. The Şeşê Reşko family migrated from Qopela or Berkaşê, and the Çewîş family came from Hesen Dêra. Notably, the village is also home to Arab families who have integrated deeply into the community structure, including the Bobena tribe originally from Minbic and the Mecdem tribe from Zeytûnakê. Residents emphasize that Kurd and Arab neighbors share all aspects of life, from weddings to funerals, describing their bond as an inseparable brotherhood.

A prominent feature of local spiritual life is the Ziyareta Kersanê, a sacred site located near the village. Villagers, particularly on Wednesdays, visit this shrine to seek healing or blessings. The rituals involve slaughtering chickens and mixing the blood with soil from the shrine, a practice believed to cure illnesses and speech impediments. One resident shared a personal account of his daughter recovering her voice after a visit to Kersanê. The site is surrounded by ancient trees and remains a focal point for communal gatherings and meals.

The geopolitical location of Marsawa has deeply impacted its agricultural and social history. The village lands are bisected by the border with Turkey. An elder farmer named Xalê Cuma recounts that mines were laid in the area in 1954 and recounts a confrontation with a Turkish commander in 1962 regarding the seizure of their olive groves. Despite the physical division characterized by walls and minefields, the villagers maintain a psychological connection to the land on both sides. The village is also known for its martyrs, including Dilxwaz, Rêber, Şiyar, and Şêx Farûq, all of whom were of Arab origin but fought and died for the local Kurdish administration, further cementing the cross cultural unity of Marsawa.

Mîrsewa is a village located in the Şera district of the Efrîn region, situated near the Turkish border. The village rests on a plateau bounded by the Sabûn Sû river to the southwest. According to local elder Ebû Îsmaîl, the village was founded approximately two centuries ago. The name Mîrsewa originates from the village being exactly midway between two ancient fortresses, Kela Nebî Hûrî and Kela Rewenda. Travelers moving between the two castles would pass through this midpoint together, and the local Arabic phrase describing how they passed together eventually evolved into the name Mîrsewa.

The village features a diverse social structure. The original settlers were Arab goat herders belonging to the Bobena and Micadme tribes. Elder Ebû Îsmaîl recounts that his ancestors originally migrated from Hema to Minbic and then to Dêr Sîwan. Seeking good winter pastures and proximity to the river, they purchased land from the area's prior inhabitants. Later, several Kurdish families arrived from surrounding regions to settle. The Heso Reşko family migrated from Ze'rê, the Ehmed Reşo family arrived from Hesen Dêrlî, the Hemo Yûsif family came from Qere Tepe, and the Reşîd Xirxiz family migrated from Dêr Sîwan. The presenter also notes the presence of the Kurdish Omkî tribe. Today, reflecting their mixed heritage, the villagers speak Arabic, Kurdish, and Turkish.

The village is home to minor Kavilên Romanî and an important local shrine known as Kirsane. Located among ancient Darên Sîndiyanê and Darên Berûyê trees, the site includes an old collection well named Bîra Kirsane, a cave called Şikefta Kirsane, and a graveyard. An elder named Ebdilhemîd Mistefa explains that Kirsane was historically a major site of pilgrimage. Locals would bring sick individuals and diseased livestock to circle the shrine, sacrifice animals, and apply earth from the site to seek divine healing. While these traditional celebrations have faded, villagers have recently resumed burying their dead at Kirsane, because winter floods often block the road to the larger regional shrine of Nebî Hûrî.

Mîrsewa is highly regarded for its agricultural wealth and the extraordinary longevity of its residents. The documentary features an interview with Delî Hîlal, a woman reputed to be one hundred and thirty five years old. She attributes her remarkably long life to a spiritual dream in which she drank the water of life. The wider community sustains itself through robust farming practices, tending to twenty seven thousand olive trees, cultivating vineyards, and raising sheep and goats in the rugged terrain.