Lion-hearted Zezva: musical memorial at a funerary horse race

This thesis is focused on the memorial practices of the Tushetian community of northeastern Georgia, in particular their annual, commemorative festival known as Zezvaoba. Through an analysis of Zezvaoba’s structure, rites, and sounds; an explanation of local histories and beliefs; and personal accounts derived from my ethnographic experience, I contextualize Tushetian practices (musical, equestrian, and culinary) within a broader conversation about regional identity, the politicization of memorial practices, and the utilization of musical performance as a means to both remember the past, and comment on the present and future.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.Mus.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Musicology

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Wheeler, Benjamin Michels

Contributors dc:contributor

• Buchanan, Donna A.

• Musicology
• Georgia
• Tusheti
• Mourning
• Ritual

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Benjamin Michels Wheeler

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132597

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/132597