Ode To Talysh People

Today, I wish to pay tribute to the Talysh people, one of Azerbaijan’s most significant cultural assets and the indigenous people of the country’s southern region. Residing between the mountains and the sea, the Talysh have developed a culture and way of life that harmonize with their unique geography. It is estimated that the Talysh population in Azerbaijan ranges between 300,000 to 600,000. We can all agree that the Talysh are among the cornerstone communities of Azerbaijani culture, distinguished by their exquisite cuisine, rich traditions, and beautiful language. Notably, during the Safavid period, the Talysh were the only non-Azerbaijani ethnic group permitted to be part of the Qizilbash military order. For over 500 years, there has been a profound friendship and unity between the Azerbaijani and Talysh peoples. Unfortunately, during the Soviet era, there were efforts to erase the Talysh from existence. However, these attempts were unsuccessful, and today, there is a growing interest among the younger generation in the Talysh language and culture. While there remain certain shortcomings at the state level in promoting Talysh heritage, these are expected to improve over time. Perhaps, in the future, we may even see Eurovision songs featuring parts from Talysh language—just as few would have believed that France would ever send a song in Breton.