Photos

Drum Players

Two drum-players in their traditional clothes during a performance of zeybek dance show.

What is Zeybek and Efe?

Zeybek is a very important tradition in the western part of Turkey where I grew up. Efe were the leaders of zeybek society. Zeybek is a major sub-culture, involving history, legend and its own style of music, dancing, clothing and all other kinds of social expression.

May I listen to it?

Yes, I uploaded the song "Tavas Zeybegi" on the internet for you. You can download this typical zeybek song by right clicking this link and choosing "save target as".

Clothes in Details...

Zeybek or Efe men wear a reddish helmet which is made of broadcloth and this helmet called "Kabalak". Efe ties "Posu" that the young girls embroidered around their helmets. The blue shalwar (baggy trousers) that Efe wear are called "Çasir Menevrek". These shalwars' length extends to the knee-caps and they are open in both winter and summer. The flank side of these "Çasir Menevreks" are black-silk caftan (robe). They wear the tassels that is called "Koza" and they are long. This tassel must be 100 drachma (400th part of an okka). If the jackets that the Efe wear have sleeves, this type is called "Cepken" and if not, then it is called "Çamadan". These are made of blue or dark-blue broad-cloth and they are embroidered with the black-silk caftan with various motifs and Zeybeks wear silver-thread cepkens. The mintan with thin round disks and without color is called "Alakye", is worn to the waist and leather weapon case which is tied to it. In this weapon case "Kulakli Yatagan Knife" takes place.

Besides a handkerchief a silver tobacco case, an amber cigarette holder and two okkas of clean wool-shorn is used in case of an injury and from flank side of the weapon-case, an iron stick that is called "mese" leans over. He uses his knife to sharpen this Pala or to defend himself in case of a confrontation against agony. Two Efe never shoot each other, because this signifies "cowardness".

Efe wear "Pazubent" that is covered with silver to their arms, an "enam" and a silver "hamay" lean over on their breasts. Pazubent is worn from the childhood to the end of life. Efe's weapons are silver repose work that is embroidered with a silver repose. They wear cross-cartridges called "Karlilik" on their breasts. The embroidered boots that Efe wear are called "Kayalik" only Efe wear them. Zeybeks and infants wear "Çariksi" (slippers). Both in winter and summer the wool socks are worn and knee-pad that is called "Kepmen" are worn on it. The daggers which are put "Kepmen" are used in dances. Efe and Zeybek are distinguished from each other with the difference in their mintans; Efe's mintans are not buttoned up, their breasts are seen. (Source)