Oxtay Aqayev

Meykhana

Meykhana is considered to be one of the most ancient genres in the oral folk creativity of Azerbaijan nation.
Hundreds of years ago meykhana appeared in the villages situated near to Baku and gradually spread to the Absheron peninsula and to the Southern Azerbaijan. The poets of meykhana art, who had irreplaceable talent and inexhaustible word stock, performed meykhana. The most interesting thing is that, they improvised irreplaceable poems just during the singing, without any preparation or correction. Usually they performed meykhana at weddings and other places; their glory passed from mouth to mouth and reached our days.
Such poets, as Mirza Bagir, Bekmamed Babir, Aghahuseyn, Vahid, Aghasalim and their present-day followers had proved and prove the uniqueness of their art.
During 1880-1915 in Baku flourished the literary society named “Мяъмя цш-шцяра” (The society of poets), which had very famous and talented poets of that time as its members.
Those who call the meykhana “the miracle of literary verse” would be absolutely right.
This genre is built on the “яруз” {яeruz} rhyme (this type of rhyme was taken from Arabic literature, used in Koran) and also on the full rhyme. But also the rhyme is completed by the form and the content of meykhana; depending from this meykhana can be critical, philosophical, didactical etc.
Usually meykhana is performed by 2 singers (they are also poets) in the form of dialogue, but it can also be performed by a group of poets.
It should be noted that the Soviet Government forbade the performance of meykhana at weddings, national mobs and other places. This was the reason for the cooling of people’s interest in meykhana. But after the disintegration of the Soviet Union this prohibition was lifted and now this peculiar genre of oral folk art is able to develop further.

Mirza Bagir (1810-1882)- Born and died in Baku, one of the most famous and strongest literary masters of meykhana of XIX century. Also famous as an expert of classical literature, the science of the East and a talented painter. An active member of the society “Мяъмя цш-шцяра” (The society of poets).
Vakhid Aliagha Mamedgulu oghlu- Was born in the village Masazir nearby Baku and died in 1965. He was famous as poet who wrote gazels and as a skillful meykhana performer. He wrote poems from his youth, and later was the member of “Мяъмя цш-шцяра” (The society of poets). Being the master of creation of satirical poems he also brought some new elements to the performance of the meykhana (mainly satirical elements). Also he wrote lyrical poems and gazels.
Khakim Gani (Guseynov Gani Huseyngulu oghlu) –was born in 1920 in Baku. He is considered to be the most splendid and talented present- day performer of meykhana. He likes more the genre of gazels, moreover he is the significant scientist the field of Fizuli’s works.

Salimov Aghasalim Ali oghlu- was born in 1930 in the Mashtagha village near Baku. He is the performer of such meykhana schools as the school of Atababa Hijry, Aliagha Vahid and Aghahuseyn. In present days he is considered to be one of the most splendid performers of meykhana.

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