Freedom motif in Chechen folk lyric songs of illi
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25587/2782-4861-2025-1-30-44Keywords:
Chechen folklore; illi song; lyrical songs; freedom motif; folk art; artistic symbolism; social protest; historical memory; national identity; cultural heritageAbstract
The study of lyrical Illi songs, which the authors of the article identify as a separate subgenre of lyric-epic Illi songs, represents a significant contribution to the study of Chechen folklore, revealing their cultural, historical and artistic significance. In the context of globalization, where culture is subject to rapid changes, such studies become necessary for the preservation of national identity. The main goal of the work is a comprehensive analysis of the content, artistic form and cultural-historical context of illi songs, as well as identifying their role in the transmission of national values and memory. Illy songs, as an important historical source, reflect not only important events such as the Caucasian War and deportations, but also the psychological perception of the Chechen people of these historical cataclysms. They strengthened the spirit of resistance to social oppression, expressing the people's protest and their desire for justice. Illy songs have become a unique way of preserving cultural memory, fostering a sense of pride in the people and their traditions, and forming a national identity. The main research method is the systematization and analysis of folklore material, which is implemented using linguistic, comparative, semiotic, psychological and cultural approaches, which allowed us to analyze illi songs as a form of protest, a means of expressing collective experiences and the struggle for freedom. The novelty of the study lies in the deep analysis of songs not only as historical evidence, but also as cultural and artistic phenomena. Particular attention is paid to symbolism and allegories that reveal people's aspirations and experiences. The results of the work highlight the importance of preserving the genre of illi songs, including the creation of digital archives for the dissemination and preservation of this cultural heritage. Prospects for further research include deepening the historical and cultural context, creating a theoretical basis for Chechen folk poetics, and conducting a comparative analysis with the folklore of other peoples of the Caucasus. An important aspect of future research is the use of songs in educational and cultural projects to form a sense of connection with the history and culture of their people in young people.
References
1. Uslar PK. Something about the verbal works of the highlanders. In: Collection of information about the Caucasian highlanders. Tiflis: Print. House of the Main Administration of the Viceroy of the Caucasus; 1868:1–42 (in Russian).
2. Berzhe AP. Chechnya and the Chechens. Tiflis: Print. House of the Main Administration of the Viceroy of the Caucasus; 1859:140 [Web source]. URL: http://elib.shpl.ru/ru/nodes/35648-berzhe-a-p-chechnya-i-chechentsy-tiflis-1859#mode/inspect/page/7/zoom/4 (accessed November 10, 2024) (in Russian).
3. Ivanenkov NE. Mountain Chechens. In: Terek collection. Literary and scientific supplement to the “Terek Calendar” of 1911. Iss. 7. Vladikavkaz: Print. House of the Terek Regional Government; 1910:234 (in Russian).
4. Ippolitov AP. Ethnographic essays on the Argunsky District. In: Collection of information about the Caucasian highlanders. Dep. 3. Tiflis: Print. House of the Main Administration of the Viceroy of the Caucasus; 1868:1–43 (in Russian).
5. Yakovlev NF. Issues of studying the Chechens and Ingush. Grozny: Chechnarobraz Publ.; 1927:48 (in Russian).
6. Korzun VB (ed.) Essay on the history of Chechen-Ingush literature. Grozny: Chechen-Ingush Book Publ. House; 1963:240 (in Russian).
7. Vertepov GA. In the mountains of the Caucasus. In: Tersky collection. Iss. 6. Vladikavkaz: Print. House of the Tersky Regional Government; 1903:94–149 [Web source]. URL: https://ua.files.fm/f/kxukv28r/ (accessed December 11, 2024) (in Russian).
8. Dalgat BK. Primitive religion of the Chechens. In: Tersky collection. Iss. 3. Book 2. Vladikavkaz: Printing House of the Terek Regional Government; 1893:41–132 (in Russian).
9. Laudayev UL. Chechen Tribe. In: Collection of Information about the Caucasian Highlanders. Iss. 6. Sec. 1. Tiflis: Printing House of the Main Administration of the Viceroy of the Caucasus; 1872:1–62 (in Russian).
10. Eldarkhanov TE. Chechen Texts. SMOMPK. Iss. 28. Sec. 3. Tiflis: Printing House of the Chancellery of His Imperial Majesty in the Caucasus, K. Kozlovsky and M. Martirosyants; 1900:1–42 (in Russian).
11. Akhriev ChE. From the Chechen Legends. SSCG. Vol. 4. Sec. 2. Tiflis: Printing House of the Main Administration. Viceroy of the Caucasus; 1870:1–33 (in Russian).
12. Uslar PK. Ethnography of the Caucasus. Linguistics. 2. The Chechen Language. Tiflis: Printing House of the Chancellery of the Commander-in-Chief of the Civil Service in the Caucasus; 1888:114–149 (in Russian).
13. Sheripov AD. Articles and Speeches. Collection. 3rd ed., corr. and add. Grozny: Chechen-Ingush Publishing and Printing Association “Kniga”; 1990:176 (in Russian).
14. Nazhaev AI., Ibriev SI (увы.) Chechen Songs. Grozny: Typolithographic newspaper “Serlo”; 1926:48 (in Chechen).
15. Mamakaev M., Asanov N. (eds.) Poetry of Chechen-Ingushetia. Moscow: Khudozhestvennaya literature Publ.; 1938:82 (in Russian).
16. Arsanov SA. When friendship is recognized. Novel. Grozny: Chechen-Ingush. Book Publ. House; 1979:463 (in Russian).
17. Baduyev SS. Stories and novellas. Grozny: Chechen-Ingush Book Publ. House; 1989:296 (in Chechen).
18. Mamakayev MA. Zelimkhan: Novel. Grozny: Chechen-Ingush publishing and printing association “Kniga”; 1990:224 (in Russian).
19. Oshaev KhD. Fiery years: Historical novel: In 3 parts. Grozny: Chechen and Ingush Book Publ. House; 1966–1967 (in Russian).
20. Munaev IB. Poetics of Chechen-Ingush heroic-historical songs illi: problems of formation of the genre and its communication systems: dissertation for the degree of candidate of philological sciences. Moscow; 1981:192 (in Russian).
21. Dzhambekov OA. Genre and poetic features of Chechen heroic-historical songs Illy. Candidate’s dissertation (Philology). Maykop; 2008:220 (in Russian).
22. Dzhambekov OA, Dzhambekova TB. (eds.) Chechen folklore. Part 1. Grozny: ALEF Publ.; 2012:423 (in Chechen).
23. Dzhambekov OA, Dzhambekova TB. (eds.) Chechen folklore. Part 2. Grozny: ALEF Publ.; 2012:477 (in Chechen).
24. Gilles F. Lettres sur le Caucase et la Crimee. Paris: Gide, libraire-editeur; 1859:138–139. [Web source]. URL: https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/public/gdcmassbookdig/lettressurlecauc00gill/lettressurlecauc00gill.pdf (accessed November 10, 2024) (in French).
25. Tesaev ZA. Turpal-Nakhcho (12th–early 13th centuries). In: Magomedov SS. (ed.) Historical figures of Chechnya (11th–21st centuries): Collection of articles. Volume 1. Book 1. Grozny: Joint-Stock Company “Publishing and Printing Complex Grozny Worker”; 2020:81–85 (in Russian).
26. Arsanov SA. (ed.) Wonderful springs: Tales, fairy tales and songs of the peoples of the Chechen-Ingush ASSR. Grozny: Chechen-Ingush Book Publ. House; 1963:376 (in Russian).
27. Dzhamalkhanov ZD, Elmurzaev SCh (eds.) Folk songs, ditties. Vol. 1. Grozny: Chechen-Ingush Book Publ. House; 1959:304 (in Chechen).
28. Dikaev MZh. Chechen-Ingush folk social and everyday lyrics. In: Scientific notes. Philological series. Grozny: Chechen-Ingush Book Publ. House; 1968:77–84 (in Russian).
29. Baduev SS (ed.) Our garden (new and old songs, illi and ditties). Solzh-Giala: NokhchgIalgIzdat Publ; 1935:103 (in Chechen).
30. Mamakaev MA, Yandiev JKh, Mutaliev HSh (eds.) Poetry of Chechen-Ingushetia. Moscow: State Publ. House of Fiction; 1959:278 (in Russian).
31. Chechens outside Chechnya. In: Collection of information about the Terek region. Iss. 1. Vladikavkaz: Printing House of the Terek Regional Government; 1878:273–276 (in Russian).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 EPIC STUDIES

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2021 Copyright (c) This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.