Living cultural memory carrier: Asik Serdar Alyakut

Minstrelsy, one of the most important branches of our literature and culture, is a deep-rooted tradition that is based on Shamanism and has continued its existence until today by creating its own rules since the 16th century. Erzurum province is one of the cities where the minstrel tradition, which is present in all regions of Anatolia and is represented by people called "minstrel", is experienced most intensely. One of the last artists brought to the tradition by Erzurum, which has brought many great masters to the tradition, is Âşık Serdar Alyakut, who uses the pseudonym "Alyakut". In this thesis, it is aimed to determine the place of Minstrel Serdar Alyakut in tradition and his value as a carrier of cultural memory. The poems of minstrel Serdar Alyakut were evaluated within the framework of minstrelsy traditions and the functional theory of folklore. The study was prepared using content analysis and interview methods, which are qualitative research methods frequently used in social sciences. In the research conducted based on the purpose and scope of the thesis, Minstrel Serdar Alyakut conveyed important events in Turkish history, wars, heroism, customs and traditions, religious and moral principles, social values, Turkish-Islamic synthesis, historical identity and other cultural qualities to his poems within the framework of minstrel traditions. It has been concluded that it undertakes the mission of preserving memory and carrying it to the future. Keywords: Minstrel, Minstrel Serdar Alyakut, Tradition, Cultural memory