Ashigs in the Caucasus

In the Caucasus ashigs perform at weddings, holidays and other celebratory events, as well as on concert stages and on radio and television, sometimes integrating classical melodies with contemporary as they continue to broaden their repertoire. Their art is an emblem of national identity, safeguarding the Azerbaijani language, literature and music. While ashigs symbolise the consciousness of a nation, they foment cultural exchange and promote dialogue: various ethnic groups living in the country also perform the ashig art, and their songs and poems are likewise dispersed throughout the region. The art of ashig has developed especially in Gazakh, Tovuz and Shamakhi, as well as the historic Goycha and Borchali regions of Azerbaijan.