Southern Lurs

Southern Lurs (Souhthern Lurish: لݸرَلِ جنۈبی) are a large part of Lurish people^[1][2] who natively speak Southern Lurish language a branch of Western Iranian languages,^[3][4] and are an Iranic people. They occupy some regions in Southwest of Iran including Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad (fully), Sotheastern parts of Khuzestan (Behbahan, Omidiye, Hendijan, Ramhormoz and Bagh-e Malek counties) Northwestern parts of Fars (Mamasani, Rostam, Lamerd, Kazerun, Sepidan and Eqlid counties), and Western parts of Bushehr Province (Deylam, Ganaveh and Dashtestan counties).^[5]

Panels of the Elamite Rock relief of Kurangun, Fahlian

Demographics

The exact number of Southern Lurs is unknown, due to the absence of recent and extensive census data. The most recent documented statistics concerning their language are available for the year 1999, where is estimated about 900,000 ethnic population^[6] (1.43% of the whole population in Iran).

Mamasani tower by Eugène Flandin, 1851 A.D.

Language

Southern Lurish language is the southernmost section of Lurish language family. Lurish is a Western Iranian language continuum spoken by the Lurs in Western Asia. Lurish language forms five language groups known as Feyli lurish,^{[7][8][9][10]} Central Lurish, Bakhtiari,^[1][2] Laki^{[11][12][13][14]} and the Southern Lurish.^[1][2] The Lurish language is derived and descended from Pahlavi language and in comparison with other Iranian languages has been less affected by foreign invaders language e.g. Arabic and Turkic.^[15][15][16] An important feature of Southern Lurish is some common characteristics like plural suffixes (al, yal and gal) that is common with Northern Lurish dialects including Laki and Feyli lurish that are not seen in Bakhtiari and central (Minjai) Lurish. In northern parts, the language is highly amenable to Bakhtiari and in southern regions is slightly affected by Persian language.

Southern Lurish language is the southernmost section of Lurish language family

Culture

The authority of tribal elders remains a strong influence among the nomadic population. It is not as dominant among the settled urban population. As is true in other Lurish communities and Kurdish societies, southern Lurish women have much greater freedom than women in other groups within the region.^[17]

Souhthern Lurish clothing

As a subdivision of Lurish clothing,^[18] a special clothing system distinguishes Southern Lurs form their adjacent societies. In recent years, due to cultural changes male clothing is very less in use but female clothing is commonplace.^[19]

Southern Lurish female costume

Southern Lurish dance

Southern Lurish tarditional dance is an integral section of their culture and probably grew in close association with traditional Lurish music.Southern Lurish dance includes both circle dance and dance double and like Kurdish dance it is mixed-gender that distinguishes them from other Muslim neighbors.^[20] Dasmaal Baazi (handkerchief dance) a circle dance is the most popular dance and includes different performing styles like Ashtafi-manganaa. Chubazi (twig dance) is a special dance double that is performed in Celebrations and joys and is inspired by the heroic battles.^[21]

Religion

Southern Lurs are predominantly Shia Muslims.^[22][23]

Notable Persons

The most famous person of Southern Lurs is Rais Ali Delvari, an independence fighter and anti-British colonialism activist who organized popular resistance against the British troops in this clashes, Rais Ali was killed .Then the Britishs used pro-British tribes to scatter the enemy into the hinterland.At the end, local tribal leaders murdered the British vice consul (a Persian) in Shiraz. and now is commemorated as a national hero in Iran. KayLohraas Baatuli is a well-known local hero.^[24] who fought for years against Reza Shah Pahlavi troops in Boyer Ahmad and Mamasani.

References