It just so happened in the Abkhazian segment of Facebook that groups where there is an unbearable conflictogenic atmosphere and a lot of discord are more popular and numerous. First of all, this indicates the short-sightedness of a significant part of the Abkhazian Internet users. And, of course, about their lack of culture.
The group I want to tell you about now was created by Doctor of Philology, Professor Vyacheslav Chirikba. There are 785 participants in the group. The group has a public status. I don't like closed groups. I don't understand those who close themselves off from the world.
After entering the group, Facebook users immediately catch the eye of the author's publication under the username Aba Dze under the heading "Aguchips". The publication contains quotations from works written at different times by different authors.
For example, J. Reineggs in the "Description of the Caucasus" in 1783 wrote: "The people living in the Kuban under the name Abazek consider themselves a long-separated colony of Abkhazians and call this country Big Avaza, and give their place of residence the name Small Avaza...".
In his work "On the language of the Ubykhs" (1816-1875) P.K. Uslar wrote: "The coastal tribes, including the Ubykhs, are known among the Adyghes, who live behind the ridge to the east and further beyond the Kuban, under the name of Abaza or Abadza."
Khan-Girey owns the following lines: “Abkhazians call their land Apsne, and they call themselves aps-o; the Georgians call them Abkhazians, and the Circassians call them Abadzes...”
In "Letters on his stay in Circassia 1837-1839" D. Bell on page 348 mentioned the "powerful country of the Absuans".
N.M. Albov in his work “Studies in the Transcaucasus in 1893” wrote: “Georgians have long called this tribe “Abkhazi”, and among the Circassians it was known as “Abadza” or “Azega”. Abkhazians call themselves "Apsua", and their country "Apsne". Their conditional response when meeting with other highlanders is the word "Akhchipsy".
Given in the publication and a quotation from the book of Sh.D. Inal-ipa "Anthroponymy of the Abkhazians" (2002), where the author writes: "According to legend, the mountainous Abkhazian society Mdzaa or Mamdzaa consisted of surnames: Abataa, Abyrzyk, Adagua, Airaa, Aublaa, Adzhyraa and Nanba."
In another publication (dated February 9), the same Aba Dze quotes a Russian intelligence officer, Baron F.F. Tornau (report for 1835), who, referring to the Sadz Dzhigets, indicates that “from the Bzyb River to the river. Sochi is inhabited by Abaza ‒ a generation that is of the same tribe with the Abkhazians, speaking the same language with them, without any noticeable change. They call themselves Abadza, sometimes Sadz, under which name they are better known to their neighbors, for Abadza is too general a name and belongs to the whole tribe, whose tribes are located on the northeastern slope of the Caucasus Mountains and spread to the Kuban itself.
The head of the Black Sea coastline, Russian General N.N. Raevsky in his “Review of the Eastern Shore of the Black Sea” in 1839 wrote: “You need to know that previously the entire space from the Khamysh River (6 nautical miles south of Sochi) to the borders of Mingrelia belonged to the Shervashidze princes. It is inhabited by a single-tribe people who call themselves Azega, and we are known under the name of the Abkhazians. For some time, part of this people, living between the river Khamysh and Gagra, was deposited from the Shervashidze princes. To strengthen herself, she entered into a close alliance with the Dzhigets, consisting of three societies: Vardane, Sashe and Ubykh. All this space is now the so-called Lesser Abkhazia.
K.D. Machavariani wrote in 1913 in the book "Guide to the city of Sukhum and the Sukhum District with a historical and ethnographic essay" that the Dzhigets (Sadz) considered themselves to be the Azega tribe (that is, to the Abkhazians).
In 1840, General N.N. Rayevsky wrote that "the translation of the sacred books into the Abkhaz language is necessary. In addition to Abkhazia, this language is also spoken by the Tsebeldians, rebellious Pskhuvians, Dzhigets, Ubykhs and many other tribes. These tribes are as numerous as the population of Georgia."
The Adyghe scientist Samir Hotko wrote in 2014 that "the Sochi River in its lower course in the XVI- first half of the XIX century was occupied by the Abkhazian tribe of Sadz (Dzhigets)." He further writes: "The North Abkhazian population, among which Sadz (dzhigets) were a particularly large group, occupied the territory from the Bzyb River to the Sochi River. In Russian ethnographic literature, sadzas are very often defined as Black Sea Abazins. Identification with the Abazins can be explained by the fact that the Turks called both the Sadzs, the Ubykhs, and the Abkhazians themselves by the same term Abaza. Georgians called sadzs dzhiki (hence the Russian term dzhigets)."
Another very important quote... A.V. Gadlo in "Legends about the resettlement of Kabarda Tambiev" (1994) writes that Kabardian storytellers, passing on the legends about Kabarda Tambiev, experienced difficulties when they had to answer a very important question for the Adyga listener about the tribal origin of the hero. They talked about the fact that Tambiev comes "from Mudavi", i.e. from a group of southern Abaza-Medoveians.
And here is what Gazi Seidi Ahmed Pasha wrote about the Sadzs: "Between the Abkhazians and Circassians there lives a people called "Sadzs". They know both Circassian and Abkhaz languages. These are brave, courageous, robber people. For the most part, they are mixed and related to the Abkhazians. Even the peculiarity of their accent shows that they are descended from this people."
And here is what Gazi Seidi Ahmed Pasha wrote about the Sadzs: "Between the Abkhazians and Circassians there lives a people called "Sadzs". They know both Circassian and Abkhaz languages. These are brave, courageous, robber people. For the most part, they are mixed and related to the Abkhazians. Even the peculiarity of their accent shows that they are descended from this people."
Among the Sadz there is a surname Pys-ipa (Pysaa), who speak the Sadz dialect of the Abkhaz language. I suggest you watch the video posted in the group, in which you will see the musical game of an elderly woman Sabahat Psapha (Pyspha) from Turkey. In the 7:47 segment of the video, listen to the language spoken by women. And you will hear Sadz speech, which is understandable to Abkhazians.
On January 17 of this year, the group published a repost of Tamara Polovinkina's note published in the Adygi History of Sochi group. Here the author writes the following: "Looking through the 2nd edition of E.G. Astvatsaturyan's book "Weapons of the Peoples of the Caucasus" (St. Petersburg, 2004. Atlant Publishing House), found in the introduction several pearls missing in the 1st edition of 1995. I present here a piece of text accompanied by my comments and a brilliant work by Azamat Anchek entitled "About the Ubykhs, Abkhazians and Gagarin".
Further, Tamara Polovinkina points to a drawing by Gagarin, named by him as "A Meeting of Circassian Princes in the 1839-40s." Here is this drawing…
Further, Tamara Polovinkina refers to the researcher of this issue, D.K. Chachkhalia, who gives the following considerations on this matter. The term "Circassians" is used here in a broad North Caucasian sense. In fact, the drawing should have been called "The Meeting of the Abkhaz leaders". The drawing was created in Sochi in 1841 and reflects the specific events of this year.
In the center stands an elderly prince in a white Circassian. This is the Abkhazian Prince Gechba Arslanbey, an outstanding political figure, an influential representative of the princes Gechba, who owned the seaside part of Sochi. At the end of the XVIII century, Gechba Arslanbey was the Sukhumi naib. The identity of this prince was personally confirmed by Gagarin in one of the sketches for this drawing.
The far left is the prominent politician Katz Maan. He was the first minister at the court of the sovereign Prince of Abkhazia. In the Russian service, he reached the rank of Major General. He is a determined commander, a flexible diplomat, a sociable and perspicacious interlocutor, a brutal suppressor of any rebellion.
To the right of Prince Gechba Arslanbey stands Prince Zoskhan Amarshan. He owned Dal, a remote region in the center of Abkhazia. Russian Russian supporter and signed the oath given to the Russian tsar in 1837. He was killed on October 7, 1841 in a battle with the Abkhazians, opponents of the Russian government.
A young prince of Rostom Inal-ipa looks out from behind the backs. He belonged to a family that owned lands in the lower reaches of the Bzyb. The young prince Inal-ipa was brought up in the house of his atalyk, the leader of the Ubykhs, Hadji Kerantuk.
Abkhazian princes are surrounded by their bodyguards, who were recruited from personal nobles. The artist sketched them from life in Sochi and Adler during the events of 1841. At that time, the ruler of Abkhazia, Mikhail Chachba, rendering services to the Russian government, tried to persuade the leaders of Little Abkhazia and the Circassian tribe of Ubykhs to stop resisting and submit. In the spring of 1841, his peacemaking efforts were particularly active and successful – on May 4, an agreement was concluded with the Ubykhs, on May 12, Prince Aublaa Ali Ahmed took the oath of allegiance to the Russian throne.
In the photo below, the far left is sadz Inal Shenkao (Shvynhwaa). According to the member of the group who published this photo, it was taken in Mecca in 1870. Next to him is Abdul-Malik Jarkas (standing), Haji Kerenduk Berzek.
On December 19, 2021, Vyacheslav Chirikba published a repost of Necdet Agumaa's publication in the group (Necdet Akoğlu Agumaa). Necdet is one of the brightest representatives of the Abkhaz diaspora living in Turkey. He visited one of the Sadz (Abkhazian) ancestral cemeteries. I want to introduce you to these photos.
The grave of a man named Sadz (Sadzba) Rafik Gunesh.
The grave of Mahmut-oglu Mukhittin Vardan (Vardania).
The grave of Hassan Vardan (Vardania).
Pay attention to how the surname Vardan is inscribed on this tombstone, which originate from the gardens of Vardanyzhvlar. Here you see exactly the form of "Vardania".
And this is the grave of a woman named Ashbukhupha.
This is the grave of Abzajaa Riza Aktash.
And the surname Ankop is recorded here, and I cannot say for sure whether the person buried here belongs to the surname Ankvab or to the surname Anakopia.
The grave of Ashba Guner Kylych.
The grave of the representative of the Sadz family Mushajba - Myushhaj Osman oglu Alim Kilich.
The grave of a man with the surname and name of Aryt-ipa (Arydba) Emin Beyin oglu Jin Yildirim.
And the grave of a man from the surname Ankop (most likely, this is the surname Anakopia) - Huseyin oglu Kadir Arslan.
In this group, the full name of which sounds like this: "SADZS ‒ APSUA ‒SADZ ABHAZIANS ‒ SADZ ABHAZLAR ‒ АСАӠҚӘА", some of my videos are exposed. In particular, those that I made in Turkey and Adjara. Here is the first video that appeared on the pages of the group thanks to Vyacheslav Chirikba.
Readers of this publication will undoubtedly be interested in the map of Ubykhia and Asadzua, which is available on the page of this group.
A negative on a glass carrier, exhibited in the group by Raul Sanard-ipa, will also be interesting for you. The negative depicts a meeting of city elders on the land of the Ard tribe (Aredba, as it is known, Abkhazians) ‒ (near modern Adler) in 1839.
The group also published photos of the descendants of the Sochi rulers from the Aublaa clan, who considered and consider themselves Abkhazians. The first photo from this series shows the Abkhazian Prince Yakut Aublaa from the village of Dzhgerda, which is located in Turkey.
Sister of Yakut Aublaa, married Mshvyd-ipa.
Zerrin Aublaa.
Abkhazian princesses from the Aublaa family are heiresses of the rulers of Sochi.
On May 31, 2021, Vyacheslav Chirikba put up a photo of sadzs in the group. The photo shows Abkhazians from the Abkhaz Sadz village of Akbalyk Nail Palba, Cengiz Nanba and Mesut Aykutsba. The photo was first published on the Internet by Saida Azhiba in May last year. From the sadzs depicted here, I am personally familiar with Mesut Aikutsba. I suggest you watch the video that I made in the family of dear Mesut.
The video you just watched was taken by me on my phone in the village of Akbalık. I want to introduce you to two Abkhazians. These are Mesut Aykutsba and Ahmet Mushajba. The first of them speaks Abkhaz perfectly. The other one understands the Abkhaz language only a little, but at the same time, like the first one, has a warm Abkhazian heart. And, despite the fact that he is not a historian, he is independently trying to create a general list of Abkhazian surnames living in Adjara.
About himself, Mesut Aykutzba says that he is not a bzyp, that he is a sadz, that he is a khaltzys and that he is one of those who can "assemble a person with broken bones." He further noted that both Sadzs and Khaltzys are Abkhazians. Mesut is distinguished by the dialect only of Ashuis and Ashkhars, whom for some reason he considers less warm than Abkhazians. I would ask you, my dear friends, not to take offense at this man. He expressed his opinion, which was interesting only from the point of view of ethnographic science. I'm not quite a master in the field of video editing yet. If I could, I would certainly cut out a certain piece from the interview…
Nevertheless, Mesut Aykutsba noted that the "Abkhazian language" of Ashuis and Ashkhars and they themselves are disappearing, they are becoming fewer and fewer, which is really dramatic…
And this video was made by me in Turkey on August 9, 2018. Together with Yudzhel Chikpha, we are in Akbalyk village, visiting the famous master Mesut Aykutsba.
Photo Ishik Gechba from the Sadz (Abkhazian) village of Kuzuluk, which is located in Turkey. The picture appeared in the group on April 28, 2020.
A very interesting poem in the Sadz dialect of the Abkhaz language was published by Vyacheslav Chirikba in the group on June 20, 2021:
Ҳаҧсуазырий ҳаҧсуазыроуп,
Ҳанаҧсуухый ҳайуазароуп!
Айбагәахьра ҳабжьазароуп!
Анцәа ҳазшыз ҳагәырлаша!
Ҳайбагәырӷьо ҳайцыркәаша!
Аҧсны акәып ҳаб игәара
Ҳара ҳазааӡаз ҳан лыгара
Уый ҳаӷацәа ишҧаргара?!
The poem, according to Vyacheslav Chirikba, belongs to Maan Midhat Bey. Hassan Abash retold it in the Sadz dialect.
The translation of the verse is as follows: If we are Abkhazians, then we must be Abkhazians. While we are Abkhazians, we must be born (or be united in kinship). There should be a common perception of heartache between us. God who created us, light up our hearts. Rejoicing together, make us dance together. Abkhazia is our father's yard. The cradle of the mother who raised us. How can we allow our enemies to take possession of it?!
And now I suggest you watch the speech of the late sadz (abhaz) from Turkey, a talented scientist Zehni Pys-ip.
Zehni Pys-ipa (Pysaa) was the name of a talented Abkhazian linguist, a connoisseur of the Tsvizh dialect of the Abkhazian language, who died suddenly in the prime of his life. The study of the Abkhazian people, as a science, has suffered a heavy loss. This gaping wound can no longer be closed, the resulting gap can no longer be filled. Despite the fact that Zehni did not live very long, he left his mark on science. He has written several scientific papers, one of which needs to be published soon. This work is available in the world only in a single copy and it is dedicated to the study of the Tsvizh dialect of the Abkhaz language. And now look at the conversation I filmed on the phone in Turkey with the mother of Zehni Pys-ipa Nezaaket Bgazhba.
Zehni Pys-ip has a sister. Her name is Nesrin. She lives in Bursa. During one of my visits to Turkey, I visited the house of Pys-ipa and talked with Nesrin.
This video was shot by me on August 21, 2018 in the village of Ferie, in Adjara, in the Abkhazian (Sadz) family of Aikutsba. As you know, compact settlements of Abkhazians in Adjara appeared during the period of mahajirism, and we sometimes treat them as if they left for Adjara, which is part of Georgia, after the 1992-1993 Patriotic War in Abkhazia.
The decision to leave for Batumi from Turkey, where I was studying the descendants of the Abkhaz-Adyghe Mahajirs, was far from easy for me. I weighed seven times, measured the same number of times and decided. And making this decision, the main thing for me was that I am taking actions that may be condemned by a part of society, but will be gratefully received by our descendants. The main thing for me is to preserve the unity, language and culture of the Abkhazian people. I am an Abkhaz to the core. And I wish my homeland the happiest fate.
I don't know, apparently, I was programmed this way by our Creator Almighty: being a carrier of the "Sumerian" haplogroup, characteristic of the most distant ancestors of the Abkhazian-Adyghe peoples, but not characteristic of their current composition, I see my brightest goal in fulfilling the sacred mission of reviving Circassian civilization. I apologize to some part of the Adyghe people, to the radicals who believe that only the Adyghe’s are Circassians. I believe that the Circassian are the Abkhaz-Adyghe or Adyghe-Abkhazian peoples, whichever is more convenient.
My goal is noble and humane. It has nothing to do with extremism and nationalism. You can see it from my videos. It's just that when I see a disorder somewhere connected with the weakening of the ties of the Abkhazian-Abaza or Adyghe diasporas with their Homeland, with the assimilation of our compatriots, with the extinction of the centers of the native language and culture of the Abkhazian-Adyghe peoples, something awakens in me that makes me rush around countries and regions with the mission of preserving and reviving our spirit.
No one has the right to forgetting about diasporas located outside our republics. In the case of the Abkhazians of Adjara, we have lost a whole generation or 25 years. Even more, considering that ties weakened back in the early 90s of the last century. There are not so many of us Abkhazians that we can scatter brothers and sisters. While watching this video, think about this first of all. And more. There should be at least one person in the whole nation, before whom there should be no obstacles in performing vital tasks that are in harmony with the national interests of this very people and stemming from these interests.
Meet Guli Mushajba (originally from Sadzs-dzhigets) from the city of Batumi, from the Abkhazian village of Ferie, which is located in Adjara. Guli is the wife of the unforgettable Dursun Kutelia, who was known, respected and loved in Abkhazia, the mother of our wonderful brothers Beslan and Ruslan, as well as our beautiful sister Inga. Guli recalls how our compatriots from Germany arrived in Batumi back in the 80s to visit the Abkhazians of Adjara. in performing vital tasks that are in harmony with the national interests of this very people and stemming from these interests.
The teacher of the Abkhazian language Liana Aikutsba from Adjara. Posted by me on YouTube on August 25, 2018.
The family tree of the surname Lazba is from Adjara, the same Sadzs by origin. The video was posted by me on YouTube on August 21, 2018.
And this video touches my soul and I'm sure it will touch the soul of everyone who watches it. It was the third day of my stay in Batumi. August 20, 2018. And for the third time I see the same picture. In the morning, before breakfast, Guli Mushajba prepares coffee for herself, sits down at the table, but before that she asks her son Beslan Kutelia to put a mobile phone in front of her and let her listen to her favorite Circassian songs. She certainly loves native Abkhaz songs… But her soul begins to sing when she listens to the songs of the Circassian people. She especially likes this Abadzeh song. And often, often proudly declares: "We are Circassians!"; "That's what Circassians do!" Interested in her statements, I asked Aunt Guli: "I seem to know that Mushajba is an Abkhazian (Sadz) surname. But maybe your ancestors were Circassian Adyghe’s after all?" She answers: "No, listen, we are Abkhazians!" Literally, she says: "We are Abkhazians, uara!" If you continue to ask defining questions, she may even be offended. Therefore, all these days I have been watching with pleasure how Aunt Guli listened to Circassian songs, and only today I decided to record her on video and ask questions of interest to me.
An old photograph of dzhigets (sadzs), exhibited in the group on April 21, 2019.
On September 12, 2019, Denis Chachkhalia published on his Facebook page photos of Abkhazian (Sadz) princes from the Gechba family, who previously lived in Adler and now live in Turkey. Let's look at these valuable photos together.
And here is a small genealogical table of the Arydba family, the former lords of Adler.
And this is a photo of sadzs from Buzuluk (Turkey) in Abkhazia, on Lake Ritsa.
All these photos and videos convince us, reasonable and adequate, loyal and patriotic, honest and fair people that the Sadz (dzhigets) were and remain Abkhazians. I am grateful to the creators, participants and authors of the above-mentioned Facebook group. There are many, many good and valuable materials on Facebook. You just need to be where you need to be and leave from where negativity reigns.