Multiple identity, occupation, kinship and music: The musical dynamics of central Anatolian Abdals

Ethnic groups who earn their livelihood by performing traditional music in the cultural area and geography they live in help form an intricate structure in the mentioned music tradition in time while, on the other hand, creating an organic connection with that music. After a while, the music of their own on which they based it on the geography they live in is formed and maintained by their identity they exhibit collectively, professional dynamics and the determinative bonds that form the basis of intra-group communication. Central Anatolian Abdals are musicians that can be regarded in this context. This group, which is referred to as the Central Anatolian Abdals among the many Abdal communities in Anatolia, consists of the Abdals living in Kırşehir, Kaman and Keskin, and these Abdals, who are related to each other, continue their lives as musicians in weddings. In addition to the fact that the bands they call takım (corresponds to the word team in Turkish) are formed by the gathering of the Abdals living in these three centers, a takım formed goes to perform as musicians at weddings in these three settlements. Therefore, the musical cultures they shape forms as result of the common participation of the relative Abdals living in these three settlements in an organic integrity and in a structure that exhibits relatively homogenous attributes. Abdals, known as Türkmen and Alevi (Alewite in Turkish) in the geography they live in are subjected to marginalization at varying levels. However, they are in a complex but occupationally-based harmonious relationship with the rest of the society that leave them marginal. The aim of this study is to analyze the musical dynamics of the Central Anatolian Abdals within the concepts of multiple identities, profession and kinship, in line with the components summarized above. The study consists of three parts. The first part tries to shed light on the historical background of the Abdals from ethnic, linguistic and religious perspectives. The second part gives information on the theoretical framework of the study and the third part features the evaluations based on theoretical framework of the data obtained from the field researches about identity, kinship, music and musicianship in Central Anatolian Abdals.