Ozan - Zakir - Aşık

In this section, Pir Erkan Çanakçı discusses three key figures who serve as carriers of oral culture in Alevi society: the Ozan, the Âşık, and the Zakir. He explains the historical development of these concepts, their functions, and the differences between them, detailing the roles each plays in cems, in collective memory, and in cultural transmission. The video demonstrates that these figures are not merely artists, but also sacred intermediaries who transmit religious knowledge from generation to generation.

This video is compiled from oral narratives recorded during the Pirler–Analar Workshop held on 10–11 May 2025 at DAKME (Dortmund Alevi Cultural Center – Rıza Şehri Academy). Conducted within the framework of the Alevi Encyclopedia project, this work aims to document and digitize the oral transmission of Alevi religious leaders.