Adjara Culture and Folk

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Adjara Culture and Folk Arts

From ethnographic point of view Adjara has always been realized within the entire Georgian space. Accordingly, Adjaran folk, culture, traditions, customs, dialects, and other details represent the mighty branch of the entire Georgian mentality.

The ethnic clothing (outfit) of the Adjarans is the same as of other western Georgian part. However, it differs from traditional Georgian clothes in some details.

The craftsmanship and handiwork of this part is of great significance. Fabrics are still made with traditional methods in Adjaran highlands. It is a complex of multi-stage process comprising the whole chain of actions including shearing of sheep for obtaining clothing material, its processing, spinning, dyeing, and finally preparing the fabric on a weaving-loom by women.

The technology of making copper crockery and tinning is passed from generation to generation. Ancient agricultural tools are still actively used in agriculture and woodwork; the ancient technology of cultivating agrarian cultures has also been preserved.

Folk polyphony of Adjara is the beauty of Georgian music folklore. Folk polyphony of Adjara is the beauty of Georgian music folklore. Georgian polyphonic songs are rarity and their analogy is hard to be found. They clearly show the distinguished pride and inner nobility of the Georgians. Adjaran folklore has preserved such old Georgian songs which no longer exist in other part of Georgia. These songs are “Acharuli Naduri”, “Khasanbegura”, “Khintsikla”, “Acharuli Makruli”, “Chaghma Chakrilo Venakho”, “Shvidkatsa”, and others.

Ancient customs and traditions, grace, plasticity , elegance, alacrity, modesty all these qualities can easily be seen and felt in Adjaran folk dances, which have ling become essential part of Georgian choreography. As for the ancient ritual dances “Khorumi” and “Gandagana” they gained worldwide acclaim.

Georgian people created musical culture as early as 3-4 thousand years ago. The proof of it is the musical instruments still preserved to these days: pipe, naibuli, kviristviri, ghorototo, chiboni, panduri, chonguri, drum, tambourine, lyre, bobghani, etc. Among these the most spread instruments in Adjara were chonguri, panduri, drum, pipe, reed-pipe, chiboni. They were used during folk festivals.

The above mentioned songs and dances are annually performed at such folk festivals as “Shuamtoba” (held in Alpine zone of Adjara highlands on first weekend of August), “Machakhioba” (held in the Machakhela Valley in September) “Colchoba” (held in coastal willage Sarpi in August), “Tbeloba” (dedicated to the medieval philosopher and astrologer Tbel Abuserisdze, held in late September in the village Khikhadziri).

The festival “Colchoba” has got a special essence and meaning. As it is known, the Argonauts stole the Golden Fleece from King Ayet with the help of his beautiful daughter Mdea. They took Medea with them, killed Aphsyrte, the heir to the Colchian throne, and escaped. This myth is the basis for theatrical show “Colchoba” which is known as “Kvaomkhazoba” among the local population.

Adjaran oral folklore tradition is of great interst as well. Adjaran population separated from the Chritian world and undergoing religious persecution strove to preserve the Christian faith. It gradually became impossible though with the change of generations and forcing Muslim faith. That is why Adjarans made biblical stories and legends into fairy-tales and thus passed them to the posterity.

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