A traveler grandfather of alevî : Minstrel DavutSularî

Abstract

It is a common acceptance that the minstrel tradition started in the XVI century. From thiscentury to the present, the number of the Alewi-Bektashi representatives of this traditioncannot be underestimated. A major representative of the minstrel tradition which also exis-ted in the XX century in oral, writen and electronic media is Davut Sularî. Tis primary figu-re of the minstrel tradition also served as a grandfather as an Alevi-Bektashi poet. AlthoughSularî is one of the foremost figures of the minstrel tradition and there are some scientificresearch studies about him, he has not atracted enough atention within the academic circ-les. Te aim of this article is to explore why Davut Sularî travelled to many places both inTurkey and Europe. Terefore, in this study his biography was taken into consideration andthe views of those who knew him were referred to. In addition, the refection of the Alewi-Bektashi terminology as part of the Turkish Sufi literature in his poems was paid atention.As a result, Sularî did not travel for arbitrary reasons. In contrast, he triewto fulfill his duty as a grandfather by using his minstrel identity as well as enlightening people.