“Pepûkî ma rê çi vana”: Bi awayekî Miqayeseyî Nirxandinek li ser Efsaneya Pepûkê di Kurmancî û Zazakî de

Abstract

This study presents a comparative analysis of the myth of the Pepûk (cuckoo) bird within Kurdish oral tradition, focusing specifically on Kurmanji and Zazaki variants. Globally recognized as a mystical and mythological figure, the cuckoo carries diverse symbolic meanings across different cultures. In Kurdish folklore, the myth centers on a structural theme of shape-shifting or metamorphosis, typically involving an orphaned sister and brother driven to tragedy by a cruel stepmother or a tragic misunderstanding during the harvesting of gundelia (kenger/kereng). Driven by intense remorse after accidentally causing her brother's death, the protagonist implores God to transform her into a bird. Transformed into the Pepûk, she spends eternity mourning her brother through her sorrowful song. This chapter examines the common motifs, underlying structural functions, and regional variations across Kurmanji and Zazaki narrative texts. To provide a comprehensive conceptual framework, the study draws comparisons with global folklore—such as European and Mari traditions—analyzing how the bird embodies themes of poverty, grief, and seasonal transition. Furthermore, the study explores a genre-based debate regarding whether these accounts should be classified strictly as legends (efsane) or folktales (çîrok/sanik), noting that while they employ traditional folktale opening formulas, they command genuine belief within the community. Finally, the paper documents the transition of the Pepûk motif from oral culture into written Kurdish literature, tracing its appearances from classical poetry (including the works of Melayê Cizîrî, Ehmedê Xanî, and Feqiyê Teyran) to modern Zazaki novels, short films, and contemporary cultural expressions.