Akbar Karimi, Member of ICCN and UNESCO reported: “Samte Ganjineye Ghoghnoos” Cultural-Artistic Institute as an official member of ICCN and introduced to the International Committee of UNESCO States from Iran, has begun its official cooperation with ICCN-UNESCO since 2016. In 2025, this institute will be present at the 10th ICCN General Assembly in South Korea by presenting another file called Master Ashiq Muslim Asgari (Living Human Treasure).
Master Ashiq Muslim Asgari
Akbar Karimi emphasized that we did not benefit from any government cooperation or budget in writing and organizing the introduction file and in preparing and producing the video file of Master Ashiq Muslim Agsari, and that the overall costs of the introduction file were met by Maste Ashiq Muslim Asgari's family (Mrs. Mozhgan, Ms. Leila and Ms. Elmira Asgari) and with the assistance of Mr. Hamid Faghfouri and “Samte Ganjineye Ghoghnoos” Cultural-Artistic Institute. The International reporter in Arirang Culture Connect said: Video file was made in English and in the form of (research and report) with the artistic performances of Ashiqi art teachers.
Colleagues:
Master Ali Akbar Osanloo (Actor), Master Parviz Soodi (Poet), Mr. Ali Ahmadi (Coordination Manager), Mr. Seyyed Morteza Moosavi (Cameraman), Mr. Mojtaba Jafarloo (Photographer), Mr. Mohsen Moeni, Mr. Mahmood Ebrahimkhani, Mr. Arsia Karimi and Ms. Farnaz Seydi (International Relations Manager of the Institute and File Translator), Miss. Fereshte Abdi (English Narrator of the Video File), Ms. Roghayyeh Asgari and Miss. Namira Karimi.
In the definition of the term "Ashiq", it is stated that an Ashiq is someone whose morals and behavior resemble that of mystics. An Ashiq is skilled in playing musical instruments, composing songs and is knowledgeable in stories and legends. They sing, recite poetry and engage in poetic contests. An Ashiq is skilled in improvisation and often composes the lyrics and melodies of their songs themselves. The Ashiq art in Iran has an ancient history, with the Ashiqi tradition in Iranian Turkic culture rooted in the shamanistic beliefs of the Turks during ancient times. In ancient times, the Ashiqs were also known as "Bakhshi", "Dede" {Dada} (spiritual leaders) and "Ozaan." One of their duties was to orally transmit culture and promote cultural values and traditions. According to the epic "Dada Qorqut" the origins of the Ashiqs date back to the 7th century AD. This art gradually evolved during the migration of people and the adoption of Islam by the Turks was one of the components of this evolution. The Turks used this art to spread their religion among their fellow speakers and the art of Ashiqi developed and refined alongside mystical literature.
Ashiq Sattar Khodai, Ashiq Ali Mohammadi, Ashiq Islam Gharibi, Ashiq Abbas Radan, Mr. Jamal Pasyar (Balaban Player) and Master Ashiq Muslim Asgari
Mr. Muslim Asgari was born in 1938 in Badamestan, Zanjan. He came to Zanjan in 1955 and studied religion for six years. Muslim Asgari has been an Ashiki artist since 1968. He learned music from his father. This talented artist gave Ashiq music in Iran – Zanjan a new form by combining his religious and classical education with wonderful performances and speech art. Master Ashiq Muslim Asgari has performed over 130 Ashiq stories in local communities. In 2007, Iran's Ministry of Culture honoured him as an Ashighi master. In 2024, the Qazal Ozan Association invited professors to honour him. Mr. Muslim Asgari has performed in many international events. In 2007, he went to the first International Lovers' Seminar in Turkey. This was held by UNESCO at Gazi University. He performed and introduced some of the music and stories of local Turkish-speaking communities. He has been active for over 56 years and has written two books of poems and stories. He is one of Iran's leading Ashighi artists.
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This article was contributed by Mr. Akbar Karimi, the international reporter for Arirang Culture Connect and the Founder and Managing Director of the Samte Ganjineye Ghoghnoos Cultural-Artistic Institute in Iran. His leadership in preserving and promoting Iranian intangible cultural heritage, along with his extensive experience in cultural-artistic research and his active participation in international forums such as UNESCO and ICCN, enriches his contributions to the global cultural dialogue. In 2016, Mr. Akbar Karimi, through his research and compilation of the book on the Ashiq Stories, Quotes and Legends in Zanjan and by submitting reports to the ICCN Secretariat, succeeded in bringing the city of Zanjan and the Samte Ganjineye Ghoghnoos Cultural-Artistic Institute into the ICCN membership. He also registered the names of Ashiq Gulab ali Davoodbegi and Ashiq Sattar Khodaei and three other Ashiq masters from Zanjan in the list of Iranian intangible cultural heritage figures. Mr. Akbar Karimi registered the Ashiq Stories, Quotes and Legends in Zanjan in 2015 under number 82 in the Iranian intangible cultural heritage list and it is currently on the waiting list for UNESCO’s multinational registration.