Kafr Safra Village in Afrin: A Blend of Kurdish Heritage and Authentic Rural Life
Welat TV – Erbil
As part of the “Gundên Welat” program, Welat TV continues its exploration of the countryside of Afrin in Syrian Kurdistan, highlighting the villages of the region that are witnesses to both the past and the present.
In this week's episode, Welat TV presents a unique tour of the village of Kafr Safra, showing its rich history and the daily life of its people, from customs and traditions to inherited stories passed down through generations. It also met with a number of residents who talked about their personal challenges under the current circumstances and shared their memories and life experiences.
Kafr Safra Village
Located in the Jinderes district, about 5 kilometers from Jinderes and 30 kilometers from the city of Afrin, Kafr Safra is one of the largest villages in the region and one of the richest in heritage and traditions. It was founded about 300 years ago and is now home to more than 800 families, with a population of about 5,000. Its houses spread across the slopes of Mount Qaziqli, and a number of modern villas give the village a diverse architectural character, blending the past and the present.
The Name of the Village
The name of the village has a deep linguistic meaning; “Safra” in Aramaic means morning or bird, while the word “Kafr” refers to a village, so the full meaning of the name is: the village of the morning or the village of the bird, reflecting its symbolism connection to the surrounding nature that has characterized the area since ancient times.
Nature and Fertility of the Lands
Kafr Safra is located on the southern slope of Mount Qaziqli, overlooking the olive groves that extend south to the town of Jinderes, with a valley dividing the village into two parts. On the eastern side, it faces the fertile Jinderes plain, planted with olive and pomegranate trees, making it one of the main agricultural villages in the region.
Most inhabitants work in the cultivation of olives, grains, and legumes, as well as pomegranates and vegetables, which are irrigated from artesian wells. The inhabitants also rely on livestock farming, including sheep and goat, as an additional economic resource.
Services and Infrastructure
Buildings in the village range from old stone-and-clay houses with wooden roofs to modern cement houses.
The village has electricity and water from the artesian well in the south, as well as primary and secondary schools, a telephone center, and a central mosque.
A municipal building has also been constructed recently, alongside modern olive presses and some luxury residential buildings.
The road connecting the village to the Jinderes district is paved up to the village center, facilitating movement with neighboring areas.
Cultural Identity: Language and Poetry
During the Welat TV team's visit to the village, they met with Mahmoud Brimja, one of the most prominent poets in the Afrin region, who is from Kafr Safra.
Brimja recounted how learning the Kurdish language was forbidden in the past, and how intellectuals and students secretly brought books from Afrin and Aleppo to study at home.
He holds a degree in Arabic language from the University of Aleppo and has worked as a teacher in several areas. He also developed his academic Kurdish through his studies at the Higher Institute in Izaz and his enrollment in the Teacher Training Institute.He has published numerous poems in Kurdish and Arabic.
Memories of the Past from Village Women
On the other hand, Fatima Khalil spoke about her memories of the past, when all work, from farming and harvesting to baking bread and preparing winter foods such as Paper Sauce, jams, and dried foods was done by hand. She described how villagers produced bulgur, barley, yogurt, and cheese locally, without relying on factories.
Children played simple folk games in the absence of electricity and telephones, while girls spent time sewing dolls, telling stories, and practicing traditional rituals for occasions such as henna ceremonies
. Brim Palace: A Prominent Architectural Landmark
In the center of the village stands a historic palace known as Brim Palace, one of the most prominent heritage sites in Kafr Safra.
The palace is characterized by its unique architectural style and was built in the 1940s by a Jewish architect.
One of the village's history experts points out that the palace has its roots in the ancient Kurdish civilizations that inhabited the region.
Its cellars housed olive press that was reserved for the palace's owners and guests, reflecting the palace's social importance in the past.
A visit to one historic house revealed well-preserved landmarks, including large stone basins and antique jugs dating back to the Byzantine era, an old well used for tanning leather, and a large stone used for traditional olive pressing. The owners also maintain a collection of old household tools that document past village life.
A Village that Combines History, Nature, and People
Kafr Safra is a unique example of the Kurdish rural villages of Afrin, combining fertile nature, historical depth, diverse architecture, and rich cultural heritage.
Despite the passage of time, the village still maintains its ancient spirit and living Kurdish memory, which is passed down from generation to generation, remaining one of the most prominent villages in the Jinderes region.