Modern-day Armenia is a patchwork woven by centuries of migration, and contemporary diasporan influences, combining Middle Eastern, Turkic, Persian, Slavic, and Western traditions with a unique touch of pure Hayastan. The result? A booming creative scene that reflects the character of Armenia’s young generations, redefining their national culture and heritage as proud, diverse, and independent.
With the country’s upcoming tourist boom, as borders reopen, Armenia’s cultural complexities are about to hit the spotlight like never before — which is why we’re digging up the best of Armenian culture to take you beyond the tourist trail.
Since her debut representing Armenia in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest with her catchy single Qele-Qele, Sirusho’s fusion of traditional Armenian rhythms and energetic pop beats has brought in crowds across Armenia, Greece, and the Middle East, to shake their hips to the country’s own J Lo.
Sirusho often adapts songs from 20th century Armenian composer Komitas to become hum-worthy pop hits. Born and raised in Yerevan, Sirusho from the block often includes folk elements in her songs. Watch the video clip for Zoma Zoma: shot in Yerevan’s historic Kond neighbourhood, you can see Sirusho dance hip-hop and play backgammon while pulling off a flashy red tracksuit.
With members from Armenia, Turkey, France and the United States, six-piece urban diaspora band Collectif Medz Bazaar is a reminder of art’s great power for cross-cultural dialogue. Following a jam session in a Parisian barge in 2012, a group of Turkish and Armenian musicians got together to form a band and revive the shared cultural heritage of the two neighbouring countries, which have suffered from strained relations since the Armenian Genocide in 1915.
Almost 100 years later, Medz Bazaar blends Turkish and Armenian musical cultures, drawing inspiration from Middle-Eastern percussion, Iranian folk music, Caucasian rabiz, and even elements of Latin American music, operette, hip-hop, swing and bluegrass. A celebration of Armenia’s diverse culture and the power of music to build new bridges, Medz Bazaar is a feel-good pathway to understanding the complex layers of contemporary Armenian culture.
Pour yourself a glass of wine, sit back, and get ready for a dazzling poetic journey into Armenian culture. Known as the cinematic Holy Grail of iconic Soviet Armenian filmmaker Sergei Parajanov, The Colour of Pomegranates is a magical portrait of Armenian folk tradition. An immersive fusion between film, poetry and theatre, The Colour of Pomegranates is based on the life story of Sayat-Nova, an 18th-century Armenian ashug, or lyrical poet, who wrote in Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian and Persian. Featuring a quick dash tour of Armenia’s major historical sites and a tapestry of folklore references, The Colour of Pomegranates is not an easy watch, but, if you’re in the right headspace, it will take you on a bewildering journey across centuries of Armenian history in just 77 minutes.
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2020/07/07/get-to-know-armenian-culture-with-contemporary-folk-beats-political-documentaries-and-surreal-novels/
