Zerka

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pBA9djRct4

The village of Zerka, located in the Raco district of the Afrin region, is situated high upon the slopes of Çiyayê Bîlalê Hebeş. Local elders and historical estimates place the founding of the village between 300 and 400 years ago. The oral history of the village identifies the first settlers as Mala Mamû Mehmûd Îsê. Following this founding lineage, three other families arrived to populate the settlement: Mala Têwed, Mala Şêxê Xelûzê, and Mala Mihê. Some accounts suggest that these residents originally moved from a nearby location known as Xaniya Bêdera, situated in the valley of Geliye Cirqa.

The geography and spiritual life of Zerka are deeply connected to Çiyayê Bîlalê Hebeş. The mountain serves as a significant religious site due to the Şikefta Bîlal (Cave of Bilal), a shrine located near the summit. Local legend claims a connection to Bîlalê Hebeş, and the site has long been treated as a ziyaret (shrine). Historically, during times of drought, villagers would climb to the cave to offer sacrifices and pray for rain. A unique tradition involved pressing small stones against the cave walls; if the stone stuck to the surface, it was believed that the supplicant’s wish—whether for academic success or other desires—would be granted.

Daily life in Zerka was historically defined by the struggle for water. Before modern infrastructure, the village relied on a shared ancient well named Bîra Çûbana. This well, which reportedly never went dry, sustained not only Zerka but also the neighboring villages of Çûbana, Kêla, Gundê Qasim, and Kerrê. Residents would travel with animals to draw water using wooden pulleys, making the well a central hub for social interaction among the distinct communities.

The village economy is rooted in agriculture, specifically olive groves and vineyards, which are carved into the difficult mountain terrain. Farmers cultivate the Hevidî grape variety (also known as Zehlawî), which is renowned in the area. The village also has a history of skilled craftsmanship and education. A notable resident, Apê Henan, preserved the art of carpentry, crafting agricultural tools and tembûr instruments by hand. Furthermore, the village served as an educational center for the immediate region; the Mala Mihemedî Têwed family is credited with funding and constructing the local school, which educated children from Zerka as well as nearby Alemdarê and Kêla.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbLd6m0cQJw

The village of Zarka, located in the Efrîn region, holds a history that stretches back approximately three centuries. According to the village elder, Xelû, the settlement was established by migrants from a place called Zirîka, located to the north in what was then Ottoman territory. The name Zarka itself is a derivation of Zirîka, serving as a linguistic tether to the founders' origins. When these original settlers arrived, fleeing difficult conditions or persecution, they found the area largely uninhabited. At that time, there was only a single household present, known as Mala Jîrî. Over time, other groups arrived, including the lineage associated with Hemê Xêlet and the ancestors of the current prominent family, Mala Xelûzê, named after their forefather Xelîl (or Xelûz).

The village is situated in a visually striking landscape defined by agriculture and natural beauty. It overlooks the Deşta Mîkêtina, a plain noted for its water resources. The economy and daily life of Zarka are deeply rooted in the cultivation of the land. The documentary highlights the abundance of simaq (sumac), which covers the ground in some areas, as well as extensive orchards of zeytûn (olives), hêjîr (figs), hinar (pomegranates), and kerez (stone fruits/cherries). Xelû notes that in the past, the villagers relied more heavily on livestock, but over the last few decades, the focus shifted almost entirely to arboriculture, specifically olive and vine cultivation.

Architecturally and socially, Zarka preserves traces of its development over the 20th century. A school was established in the village as early as the 1950s, which served students up to the sixth grade before they would have to travel to Racû or Efrîn for further education. The village is surrounded by a network of other settlements, maintaining visual and social ties with neighbors such as Bela (or Bêla), Aşûnê (also referred to as Eşwînê), Dîkê, Zivinga Gelî, Çê, and Qêsim. The elders distinguish between different localities with similar names, such as Kerzêlê Çê versus Kerzêlê Cûmê.

The narrative of Zarka is also one of migration and resilience. Xelû, aged 76, recounts a life that transitioned from local trade in Heleb back to the village. He speaks passionately to the diaspora in Ewrûpa, urging them not to forget their history. He calls upon Kurds living abroad in places like Kanada, Brîtanya, and Amerîka to purchase homes and land back in Efrîn to ensure their heritage is not lost. The village remains a testament to this enduring attachment to the soil, symbolized by an ancient walnut tree planted by Xelû's grandfather over 155 years ago.