The Circassians: A Handbook

by Amjad M. Jaimoukha

The Circassians have a long history forged in the crucible of their homeland in the mountains and valleys of the Northwest Caucasus. Of the many peoples of the Caucasus, they are notable for their wide and vociferous diaspora, particularly in Turkey and the Middle East. After living for many centuries in comparative obscurity under the shadow of Russia, the Circassians staged a minor comeback after the collapse of the Soviet Union. As was the case with other regions in the Caucasus, this rebirth into nationhood was swiftly stifled, yet today's Circassian territories have been rediscovered as a cultural and political focus for Circassians globally. This book provides an in-depth description by an insider' of the ancient beliefs, customs and traditions of a remarkable people - offering insights into a fascinating world, much of which has until now remained unknown. This complex universe is unlocked in the hope of spurring more interest in the unique culture of the Circassians.

Genres: History

384 pages, Hardcover

First published February 22, 2001

About the author

Jaimoukha is currently Director of the Centre for Circassian Studies (CCS), an institute specialising in the dissemination of Circassian culture and folklore. The principal aim of the Centre is the development and dissemination of Circassian literature, culture and folklore. Jaimoukha is a strong advocate of the revival of all aspects of Circassian culture and folklore. He has written a number of books and articles in journals and newspapers championing the raising of the status of the Circassian language in both the Circassian republics in the Northwest Caucasus (where about one million Circassians live) and in the diaspora (principally in Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, US, Germany, France, and the Netherlands), where some 5 million descendants of the 19th-century Circassian forced emigrants reside. The ultimate survival of the Circassian language and culture is intimately associated with the political fate of the Circassians in the Caucasus and the re-establishment of Circassia as a viable state, recognised as a full member of the comity of nations. The unification of the Kabardians, Cherkess, Adigeans, and Shapsugh in the Northwest Caucasus in the political and cultural spheres is a requisite step towards enhanced autonomy. Jaimoukha is acknowledged among the vocal Circassians actively engaged in raising awareness of Circassian issues amongst the Circassians themselves and at the global level.

Reviews

[адэм · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author Amjad Jaimoukha dedicates the scope of this work on the Circassian people in practically all of their affairs, including their history, politics, social structures, customs, mythology, religious demographics, language, arts, and life in both diaspora and homeland in what are now the modern day republics of Adigea, Karachai-Cherkessia, and Kabardino-Balkaria. He traces through their orgins from ancient times to the modern age, introducing the reader to their ancestral homeland in the Northwest Caucasus where they've resided for thousands of years until their subsequent expulsion by Russian imperialism in the mid-19th century following nearly a century of war. While a small contingent survives in the homeland, the majority of Circassians were expelled to what make up modern nations like Turkey, Syria, Jordan, and Israel, with smaller communities residing in other areas of the world. Being victims of not only genocide but also assimilation in both diaspora and the homeland, works like these are invaluable to not only preserve what remained from our past but also to act as a springboard for further reading. The appendices and extensive bibliography/notes will be my best friend for years to come as I return eager to learn more about my people and their history. This should be your first stop if you want to learn who exactly the Circassians are and why they're so important despite being practically forgotten in the modern world. I do have minor critiques of the book, coming across some funny historical errors (Timurlane fighting Circassian Mamluks in Ayn Jalut, lol) and a lack of the Cyrillic script to accompany the Circassian translations (this is more personal preference).

One of the issues with Circassian works is that the majority of the corpus remains untranslated in Russian, Turkish, Arabic and those that do exist in English are relatively recent and obscure (not to mention expensive). For what I've seen, I have but immense respect for Amjad Jaimoukha and I feel embarrassed only recently going through his contributions to preserving our heritage.

A link to a PDF of the book can be found here if you wish to check it out (or find out what I mean when I say these books can be expensive by getting your own copy :D). Amjad also ran a very useful Facebook page called Circassian Culture & Folklore that you should check out. His articles (which are practically chapters straight from this book) can be found here .

May God bless him for his efforts and have mercy on his soul.

Аллахэм ахърэт лапӏэ къырит.