Khalfa Art

Khalfa are women-performers of folk songs and instrumental music, poetesses in Khoresm Oasis, who embody traditions of oral folk art. In terms of their activity type khalfas are divided into several types.

These are the following: khalfa soziy (khalfa musician), who perform folk instrumental melodies; khalfa yodogiy (khalfa singer and poetess), who perform folk songs at wedding ceremonies and festivities and parallel accompany their singing with play on musical instrument; khalfa kitobiy (khalfa scribe, reading old books), who read old books of religious theme ("Paygambar hikoyasi" "Bobo Rovshan" "Bibi Seshanba" etc) at mourning and ritual ("mushkulkushod" – literally "relief") events; khalfa dostonchi (khalfa narrator), who performs dostons of romantic nature (such dostons as "Tokhir and Zukhra", "Asli and Karam", "Khurliqo and Khamro") and sings songs and terma from epic stories.

Khalfas conducted their performances inside the house (ichkari) in front of public consisting of women. Khalfas are talented musicians, singers and poetesses, who skillfully play on musical instrument called "qol soz" (literally "hand instrument"; in reality it is Russian diatonic accordion, which became widespread among khalfa in the XIX century in Khoresm). Ensemble of khalfas consists of singer khalfa (who accompanies herself by playing on accordion), doirachi (accompanies by playing on doira and sings along) and raqqosa (dancer, who dances and sings along).

Ibragimova Karomat (Khiva) – Arzim eshit (Listen to my plea)

Ibragimova Karomat (Khiva) - Ishqimda kuymas (No one loves me)

Jumaniyozova Shirin (Khiva) – Kerakmas (There is no need)

Jumaniyozova Shirin (Khiva) – Khayroniman (I am surprised)