Minstrelsy (Âşıklık) tradition is a tradition that emerged by a new combination together with change which it underwent in Anatolia where was Turks’ new geography, and that is continueing its existence today in different contexts, although its origin is based on pre-islamic ozan-baksı (minstrel/bard-bakshy) tradition. Âşıklık tradition was fed from every stages of the life in terms of content, and minstrels (âşıklar) treated different subjects of individual and social life in their poems. In this paper, we examined indicators belonging to Turkestan in poems by artists who were member of minstrelsy tradition of 20th century. In this context, we examined poems by 18 minstrels, and resorted to evaluation over exemplary poems by classifying indicators concerning Turkestan, which were mentioned in these poems. Within this scope, it was seen that the concept ‘‘Turkestan’’ continued to live in minstrel (âşık) poetry with different images, terms, symbols and indicators. It was concluded that, even though they live in different geographies, minstrelsy tradition, which constitutes one of important aspects of Turkish culture, is one of the most important elements that carry cultural unity beyond political borders.
Minstrelsy tradition, 20th century, Turkestan, Turan, indicator.