CaucasTalk

When you hear the word “retirement,” what comes to mind? Collecting shells on a beach? Sitting with an armload of grandkids? To some it means a life of independence facilitated through professional care. For others, it’s receiving with honor the support of children and family. Whatever the vision, our care for the elderly in our communities says a lot about our values and culture. Today we share some of what we have learned about retirement practices in the North Caucasus and how they contrasts—sometimes radically—from ideas in the West.

Rising Soccer Star: Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov

While holidays may seem to be predictable parts of our cultures, dig a little deeper and they contain a treasure trove of insights and wonder. Holidays in the North Caucasus are no different. Today we attempt a fly-over of the 50+ primary holidays celebrated annually across the region. Some are Russian, some are religious, some handed down from ancient tradition. Each one sheds its own light on the kaleidoscope of North Caucasus peoples and practices.

Links for Episode 104

CaucasusTalks Podcast

Kunstkamera Museum

Igby Article

Igby Video

Today’s double episode [re-release of episode 27A & 27B] is truly a tour de force. In this our second installment of “In Their Own Words,” our good friends Tembulat & Zalina take us on a deep dive into the very heart of Circassian / Kabardian culture. Not only musicians, this couple also hand makes instruments and knives. They provided so much rich content we were forced to split the episode into two. Get ready for profound cultural insights, wonderful live music, sober admissions, and some good laughs on episode 103 of CaucasTalk!

Links for Episode 103

Hagauj Circassian Art & Music

XX Century Circassian War Songs by Hagauj Music Project on iTunes

Timestamps

PART A4:38 – SEGMENT: Sister Cities! 11:13 – Shout out to Marshalltown, IA 15:49 – Andrew’s amazing theory 19:45 – INTERVIEW: Tembulat & Zalina22:05 – King Kabarda 22:34 – Lake Tambikan 23:30 – Homeschooling and children’s names 26:22 – Elders name the children 30:19 – The difference between Circassian & Russian language 35:54 – Who are the Circassian people? 37:17 – Circassian culture in one word 39:24 – “Khabze” 40:13 – Islam and Circassian culture 41:46 – Christian Kabardians in Mazdoc 45:24 – Love for guests—and hand-motions  

PART B 46:52 – “Our soul and our language is the same” 49:56 – Musical presentation: shichup-shina (Circassian fiddle), hazich (wood-clappey thing) 57:44 – LIVE SONG: “Japan War” (feat. Thashloko, a.k.a. Tembulat) 1:03:00 – Choice of this melody 1:03:46 – Islamic zikrs 1:04:26 – “All our history is in songs” 1:05:01 – Learning the Circassian fiddle: A broken tradition 1:06:56 – World trending toward orality 1:07:57 – Purchase information on iTunes 1:09:09 – Album: Hagauj Project 1:10:04 – State of Circassian culture today: Sovietic

Rock climbing is alive and well in the North Caucasus. In an environment in which a few sports are exalted above all others, rock climbing has begun to offer an alternative activity for all ages. Teddy shares today about his involvement with On Sight rock climbing gym and community center in Nalchik, the capital of the North Caucasus Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. They not only offer a range of climbing experiences from novice to expert, but they have an eye to help the community at large through holistic engagement ranging from business development to education to competitions. You may not consider yourself an avid climber (or you may!) but either way we think Teddy will inspire you to add Nalchik to you itinerary on your next visit to the Caucasus.

Links for Episode 102

OnSight – FBOnSight – Insta

27Crags.comAllClimb.com

How to Live to Be 100, by Sula BenetNYTimes Review of Benet

Without a doubt, our most popular series has been “In Their Own Words,” in which we give you our listeners a chance to hear from the peoples of the North Caucasus directly. Not long ago we decided to try for one interview with every one of the 34 official languages of Dagestan—and some say there are more. Today we are privileged to meet Marat of the Tabasaran nation. Situated in southern Dagestan, the Tabasaran boast not a growing population, but they are also recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as possessing the most complex grammar in the world. This is no joke… but have a listen to learn details about that and much more unique to the Tabasaran!

Notes

In this interview our guest makes several citations about Tabasaran grammar. We want to acknowledge that various sorts of numerical tallies of languages are interesting and popular, but not undisputed. An even-handed treatment of the subject can be found here: scholar.harvard.edu/files/mpolinsky/files/DaghCaseHoax.pdf?m=1360038984

When you hear, “business startup,” your mind may go to Silicon Valley, Y Combinator, and high risk investments. Well now you can add to your list Dagestan’s very own business accelerator, IARD — the Innovation Accelerator of the Republic of Dagestan — run by our new friend Vali. Vali shares about the incredible surge in entrepreneurship across the North Caucasus and the changes that is bringing to local communities. Check out his website below!

http://iard.center/

http://tuba.ru

A young man of only 20 years, Magomed is already making lasting change for his minority Dagestani language group, the Kaitag. Most people have never heard of the 20,000 speakers of Kaitag, and yet Magomed is advocating on the international stage to get his language officially recognized. Possibly most instructive is the way Magomed has approached his involvement: he simply asked, What can I do for my people? Without any professional training in linguistics, he has created a translation and transliteration website just for Caucasus languages. If you’re needing a little inspiration for how one person can make a difference, welcome to today’s interview.

Avzag.app – Magomed’s translation and transliteration website

The watchtower on the mountain of Dagestan's indigenous languages

BeyondRedSquare Virtual Tours Website

In the spirit of “sticking it to Covid,” today Andrew unveils a brand new, unique offering from his tour company, Beyond Red Square: Virtual Tours!

Six virtual tours are offered:

* Virtual Dagestan* Virtual Chechnya* Virtual Mt. Elbrus Climb* Virtual Caucasus Mountain Adventures* Virtual Soviet Vacation (Caucasus Mineral Waters Region)* Virtual Moscow & St. Petersburg

Take your pick! They’re affordable, they’re accessible, and (most importantly) they’re enjoyable.  Click the link and take a trip to the North Caucasus!

“Every time a language dies, it’s like someone just dropped a bomb on the Louvre.” The treasures contained in a human language cannot be overestimated, according to Dr. Daniel Wilson, linguist and language technology pioneer.  A research fellow at the University of the Free State, South Africa, and Moscow resident, Daniel has been living in Russia on invitation from the Academy of Sciences to research on of the smallest language groups in Dagestan, the Tsez (also known as Didoi)—and a possible new language group related to them, the Sagada.  Daniel’s appreciation for language and the communities they represent is palpable and contagious.  We also don’t mind how he’s able to bring linguistic jargon down to street level for us.

XRI Institute

#цези (Tsez people)

#цунтинскийрайон (Tsuntinsky region)

Have you gotten the impression that the only options for sports in the North Caucasus are skiing and wrestling? We’re here today with Misha to put that misconception to rest. Misha left his profession as a lawyer to introduce tourists to the wonderful adventures awaiting the willing-hearted in the North Caucasus. Working with his wife, Masha, he now leads visitors up mountains, across canyons, through waves, and back down again as his full-time gig. Check out his website and connected channels and consider him for your next trip to the North Caucasus!Sneak Peek: He also hosts one of Andrew’s brand new, yet-to-be-unveiled virtual tours!

M&M’s Tours | Instagram | Youtube

MISHA’S TOP-10 EXTREME NORTH CAUCASUS ADVENTURES!!

10. Zip-lining9. Hot air ballooning8. White water rafting7. Rope jumping6. Mountain Motorbike5. Rock climbing4. Paragliding3. Skiing & Snowboarding2. Trekking & Hiking1. Off-roading / Jeeping!Honorable mentions: Sailing, spelunking, BASE jumping, kite-surfing, surfing.