Azerbaijani Folklore

Azerbaijani folklore is a creative expression of the local values of courage, wisdom, kindness, respect for nature and national pride which can be traced through enchanting oral and written tales. Some of the earliest legends of Azerbaijan have survived only through ritual performances related to Navruz and other important events, while other folklore has been delivered to us through epics and poems.

Epics have remained a central genre in Azerbaijani folklore, as seen through famous works such as Oguzname, Epic of Koroghlu and Book of Dede Korkut, each of which convey national beliefs and history both real and imaginary. Azerbaijani minstrels called ashugs played an unmistakable role in the preservation of these epics, which had a profound impact on local thought as they helped to solidify a moral and social code.

Azerbaijani folklore found further expression in bayati, short oral poems consisting of four lines containing seven syllables each. Bayati focused on the outpouring of human emotion and often took the form of folk wisdom. These poems were traditionally the realm of women, and some scholars argue that oral bayati represent the lost repertoire of female epics.