Kabardinka - Leperuj

Lakoba Doğukan | Uzunyayla (Kafe) 2

In the “Nisashe” ceremony («нысашэ») (also called “Schwzish” in Adigean; “Pschescheshe” in Shapsugh), whereby the bride was taken from her parental home to her father-in-law”s homestead (which comprehended her future abode with the bridegroom) in a procession, the ancient song «УЭРИДАДЭ» (“Weriydade”) (which had a number of variations) was chanted along the way by her escorts. Here is one version of the ritual chant “Weriydade, bestow happiness on our bride!”, sung by the group Bedinoqwe. The words are first given in the original Circassian then an English translation is presented. 

«НЫСАШЭ УЭРЭД»

Данэмрэ дыщэмрэ зи гущхьэ...

Ежьу. Нысэ идошэ, уорэйда,
Уорэйдэ рэйдэ уорэйда!

Зи гублащхьитIри дыжьынкъэ!

Ежьу. Нысэ идошэ, уорэйда,
Уорэйдэ рэйдэ уорэйда!

Зи дыжьын щIыIури алътескъэ...

Ежьу. Нысэ идошэ, уорэйда,
Уорэйдэ рэйдэ уорэйда!

Алътес гъуэжьыри и гъуапэщ!

Ежьу. Нысэ идошэ, уорэйда,
Уорэйдэ рэйдэ уорэйда!

Уэгум ит мазэри и напэщ...

Ежьу. Нысэ идошэ, уорэйда,
Уорэйдэ рэйдэ уорэйда!

И напэху дахэм нысэм зегъазэ!

Ежьу. Нысэ идошэ, уорэйда,
Уорэйдэ рэйдэ уорэйда!

Жыр лэныстэшхуэр нысэм егъабзэ...

Ежьу. Нысэ идошэ, уорэйда,
Уорэйдэ рэйдэ уорэйда!

Жыр мастэ цIыкIум нысэр иродэ!

Ежьу. Нысэ идошэ, уорэйда,
Уорэйдэ рэйдэ уорэйда!

“Nisashe” Song: “Weriydade, bestow happiness on our bride!”

The top of her carriage is silk and gold…

Chorus: We are escorting the bride, woreida,
Woreide reide woreida!

The two dickeys silverine!

Chorus: We are escorting the bride, woreida,
Woreide reide woreida!

Her silverine shirtfront is aglitter with satin…(1)

Chorus: We are escorting the bride, woreida,
Woreide reide woreida!

Of yellow satin are her sleeves!

Chorus: We are escorting the bride, woreida,
Woreide reide woreida!

The moon in the heavens [turns] its face…

Chorus: We are escorting the bride, woreida,
Woreide reide woreida!

Turns it majestically towards the white-faced beautiful bride!

Chorus: We are escorting the bride, woreida,
Woreide reide woreida!

The bride cuts with great steel scissors…

Chorus: We are escorting the bride, woreida,
Woreide reide woreida!

And sews with a small steel needle!

Chorus: We are escorting the bride, woreida,
Woreide reide woreida!

Translated by Amjad M. Jaimoukha.

(1) “ЩIыIу” or “бгъэIулъ” (“БгъэкIыIу” or “кIыIу” in Adigean) is part of a Circassian woman”s national costume. It consists of a false shirtfront of velvet or silk with (up to) 12 silver or gilt pairs of plate-like buckles, which when seen from a distance impart a beautiful lustre, and other ornaments.


Huryan Yi Wored-Ju Kayhan,Nağaple Osman, Kujey Murat

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