The Adygeis. Broadcast in the series 'Peoples of Russia'

By Vestnik Kavkaza, Vesti FM, the History Department of MSU

The self-designation is “Adyge.” They are a native people of Adygea and Krasnodar Territory, including the Black Sea coast from Anapa to Sochi. They also live in Turkey and Arab countries where the Adygeis moved in the second half of the 19th century.

According to the National Population Census of 2010, there are 124,835 Adygeis in Russia. They speak the Adyg language of the Abkhaz-Adyg group of the North-Caucasus family. Dialects are Timergoy (a foundation of the literary language), Abazdekh, Bzhedug, and Shapsug. The majority of the Adygeis in Russia and abroad are Sunni Muslims.

The Adygeis, like other Adygs (Kabardinians and Circassians) are successors of the native population of the North-West Caucasus. After the Kabardinians’ territorial separation of the 13-14th centuries, ethnic processes among other populations led to the appearance of thge present-day Adygeis. Tribes which formed the Adygeis ethnic group stayed in the Black Sea region and the Kuban basin. In the 16th century they were merged into Russia willingly.

Traditional crafts are field agriculture, breeding, and gardening. Their traditional culture is similar to the Kabardinians’ culture. Contacts between neighboring communities, the so-called brotherhoods, are developed. Big Adyge families remained in highland regions for a long time.

The Adygeis pay great attention to raising a person. The notions of “an Adygei” and “a cultivated person” were synonyms. If somebody misbehaves or doesn’t show respect, he is asked: “Vy – abygeba?” It means “Aren’t you an Adygeis?”

All principles of morality, behavior in society, self-education are listed in the unwritten complex of rules – Khabze. It is thought to be sacred. In ancient times the Adygeis were heathens; they worshipped woods, trees, valleys. The Adygeis paid special attention to a god called Tkha – he took the top place in all the heathen religions. Heroic stories under the united headline “Narty Epos” are ancient heroic songs about a fight against local feudal lords. The Adygeis have also military historical songs of hunters, workers, wedding songs, lullabies, and jokes, as well as weeping songs.

This program was prepared with the assistance of the History Faculty of Moscow State University and the information portal Vestnik Kavkaza.