The minstrelsy tradition and a revival leader: Ozan Rehberî in the context of Alevi revival

This research paper examines the minstrel tradition, a prominent aspect of the oral cultural tradition, within the context of the Alevi Revival. Its purpose is to compile the life, art, and works of Ozan Rehberî, a representative of the minstrel tradition and a leader of the Alevi Revival movement. In this qualitative research, field research, ethnographic research, phenomenological research and case study methods were taken as models. In the study, first of all, a conceptual-theoretical framework was created in line with the information obtained through the literature review method. Subsequently, the field research method, one of the qualitative research methods, along with the interview technique associated with this approach, was employed, accompanied by data collection methods such as document analysis and descriptive analysis. In this context, a comprehensive analysis of the ethnographic progression from the emergence of Alevism to the Alevi Revival in the history of Islam was presented by analyzing the content of the information obtained through field studies. Furthermore, interviews were conducted with Arif Sağ, Musa Eroğlu, Yavuz Top, and Muharrem Temiz, renowned masters of traditional Turkish folk music, within an ethical framework, to explore the Alevi Revival phenomenologically and elucidate the influence of the minstrel tradition on the Alevi Revival. In order to gather information about Ozan Rehberi, who forms the central axis of this thesis, interviews were conducted with five individuals from his family and close circle, adhering to ethical considerations. All written, visual, audio, and electronic documents pertaining to Ozan Rehberî were classified, examined, and interpreted using the document analysis method. Within this context, comprehensive evaluations were made regarding Ozan Rehberi's minstrel tradition and his position within the extensively studied Alevi Revival. This study is anticipated to contribute as an original research endeavor that offers a unique perspective on the minstrel tradition and the Alevi Revival. It is expected to be of significance in terms of introducing an important representative of the minstrel tradition and his works to the academic literature, as they have not been adequately addressed in previous scholarly investigations. Keywords: Traditional Turkish Folk Music, Minstrel Tradition, Alevi Revival, Revival Leader, Ozan Rehberî.