What is Meddah storytelling?
Meddah is an oral performance in which one storyteller voices multiple characters through narration and imitation. Audience interaction is part of the art.
Form and practice
1. Origins and scope Meddah is associated with storytelling venues in Anatolian and Ottoman urban culture, including coffeehouses. Variations among performers are a feature of oral tradition. 2. How it is practised A single storyteller differentiates characters through voice, accent, gesture and pace. Simple props may help; skill lies in performance rather than scenery. Audience response can reshape the story.
Meaning and safeguarding
3. Social meaning and transmission Stories engage daily life, humor and moral dilemmas. Shared listening transmits language and memory, while historical caricatures can be considered critically. 4. Life today and safeguarding Recordings document performances but cannot fully capture live improvisation. Training new storytellers through practice before audiences remains central; digital media adds reach.