Duma As Kozak National Song
Learn more about a special folklore genre, indisputable evidence of the rich culture and brilliant talent of Ukrainian people
Kobzars-lira players (1923)CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Dumas, or ballads in English, are non-syllabic epic songs about popular interpretations of historical or social and everyday events of XV-XVII centuries.
Dumas embody moral principles associated with the idea of national independence and personal dignity, deeply rooted in mythical and poetical thinking. They are performed recitative accompanied by a kobza, bandura (Ukrainian mandolin-like string instrument), or lyre.
The origin of the duma genre (XV century) coincides with one of the most important historical moments in the establishment of the Ukrainian nation – its war against foreign invaders, hence they have a strong national flavor.
People admired duma performers, known as kobza players, as transmitters of great national consciousness. They were blind and traveled around Ukraine with guide boys. Since the 1930s, the dumas’ being rejected by Soviet authorities has resulted in suppression of kobza performers.
According to the content, the dumas are divided into thematic groups, categorized by time periods:
1. Struggle against the Turkish-Tatar invaders
2. Liberation war for the creation of an independent state
3. Accession of the Ukrainian lands to the Russian Kingdom
Dumas spread from the Horodnytskyi district in Volyn, Zinkovetskyi and Kamianetskyi in Podillia in the west to the territory of the Kharkiv region in the East. The first generally recognized record of duma is the record of "Kozak Netiaga," made by Kondratskyi, dated about 1693.
The rebirth of national consciousness spurred the Ukrainian intellectuals to study dumas.
Among the major Ukrainian dumas scholars were Mykhailo Maksymovych, Izmail Sreznevskyi, Mykola Kostomarov, Volodymyr Antonovych, and Mykhailo Drahomanov, as well as Kateryna Hrushevska.
Author:
Iryna Matiash
