Nomadic Culture In Azerbaijan: The Case Of National Yaylak Festivals

Abstract

This study explores the historical development and contemporary manifestations of nomadic culture in Azerbaijan. Drawing on archaeological evidence, it demonstrates that the nomadic lifestyle—organized around the yaylak-kishlak (summer-winter pasture) system—has played a pivotal role in shaping both the economic and sociocultural fabric of the region. Practices such as horse breeding, sheep herding, and metalworking have constituted the material foundations of Turkic identity. This way of life promoted communal solidarity, facilitated political organization, and ensured cultural continuity among nomadic groups. The article emphasizes the multifaceted role of nomadic communities—not only in modes of subsistence but also in the formation of early state structures, the development of oral traditions, and the evolution of the Azerbaijani Turkic language. Despite systemic repression during the Tsarist and Soviet eras, nomadic culture endured and has, since independence, become a powerful reference in the reconstruction of national identity. Furthermore, the study examines the National Yaylak Festival as a contemporary cultural platform that revives and reinterprets nomadic heritage. The festival plays a vital role in preserving traditional crafts, promoting national sports, and encouraging ecotourism, thereby rendering historical legacy visible within modern contexts. The nomadic philosophy of living in harmony with nature resonates with contemporary discourses on sustainability and environmental consciousness, while also reaffirming collective identity, a sense of belonging, and social cohesion.