Thursday, October 9, 2025 12 noon-1 pm
Smith Reading Room, 1st floor Olin Library
Mohammad Geldi Geldi Nejad MA’23, known as “Oghlan Bakhshi,” a master of the dutar, a two-stringed lute, and an epic bard, will perform some Turkmen songs and instrumental pieces with special guest performers Zyyada Jumayeva and Abdolghaffar Geldinejad.
Sponsored by the World Music Archives & Music Library. Contact wma@wesleyan.edu for more information.
Mohammad Geldi Geldi Nejad is at the forefront of Turkmen music. Born into a musical family in Gonbad-e Kavous in the Turkmen region of Iran, he began learning music at the age of six with his father Abdolghaffar Geldi Nejad, a master of gyjak (spike fiddle). At ten years old, he was granted the title “Oghlan Bakhshi” by a council of Turkmen music masters, becoming only the second person in the last century to receive this prestigious title which recognizes him as a prodigious child bard. He continued his musical education in Turkmenistan, where he received his BA in Turkmen dutar (two-stringed lute) and completed an MA Turkmen bardic music at the Turkmen National Conservatory. His musical experience, coupled with his commitment to bringing Turkmen music into academic discussions, led him to pursue an MA in ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in ethnomusicology at Brown University. His most recent album, Journey Across the Steppes, was the first international release of Turkmen folk music in 30 years.
Zyyada Jumayeva, a dutar (two-stringed lute) player and bard from Turkmenistan, represents the female bardic tradition of Turkmens. She began learning the dutar and bardic performance from an early age and studied at the specialized music school in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Throughout her early career, her talent was recognized through numerous accolades, including first place in several folk music competitions. These achievements paved the way for her admission to the Turkmen National Conservatory. At the conservatory, she had the privilege of training under the guidance of respected bards, including the esteemed Shemshat Hojayeva. Her repertoire extends beyond the traditional bardic canons; striving to revitalize the folk songs that are closely associated with women’s experiences and narratives.
From Iran’s Turkmen region, Gonbad-e Kavous, Abdolghaffar Geldinejad is a respected master of the gyjak (spike fiddle). He studied Turkmen music under Arazmohammad Kalte and Nazarli Mahjubi in Iran, and further his musical skills with renowned gyjak players in Turkmenistan. In 1988, he founded the Magtymguly Pyragy ensemble, which became a prominent force in preserving and teaching Turkmen culture among Iranian Turkmens. In 2001, he established the Oghlan Bakhshi family ensemble with his sons, Oghlan Bakhshi and Jeyhoun. He later founded the Oghlan Bakhshi private music school in 2005, dedicated to teaching Turkmen music. Abdolghaffar has performed widely in Iran, Turkmenistan, Turkey, and European countries.