The Turkmen are traditionally a nomadic people. There are about 5.3 million Turkmen worldwide, mostly living in Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq. They trace their descent from the Oghuz tribe from Mongolia, and have been in Central Asia since the 10th century AD. Until the Russian conquest of the area, the Turkmen were known and feared for their raiding parties, attacking caravans and taking slaves to be sold at the slave markets of Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand or Merv.

Since the Turkmen tribes were only united into one nation-state this century, tribal and clan identity is still strong. The major tribes are Tekke, Ersary, Yomud, Goklen, Salor, Saryk, and Chowdor.


CULTURE

Language

The Turkmen language belongs to the Oghuz group of Turkic languages and is closer to Turkish and Azeri than to Uzbek or Kazakh. Each Turkmen tribe speaks a different dialect, but they are able to understand each other. The Turkmen have a strong tradition of oral literature, which survives today.


Hospitality

Turkmen hospitality is lavish. A visitor will be offered tea and food before being allowed to explain why he has come. When guests are invited for a meal, the tablecloth (spread on the floor) will be covered in bowls of salad, fruit, biscuits, nuts and dried fruit. The quantity of food reflects the amount of respect the host has for the guest.


Dress

Turkmen dress smartly, the men in suits, often with a tie and very clean shoes, the ladies with long, colourful dresses. To look untidy in public would bring shame on a Turkmen.


Carpets

Turkmen carpets are famed throughout the world, but many people do not realise their origin, because they are traditionally known as Bukharan, or Afghan rugs. Carpets were traditionally made on horizontal looms by the women, who memorised the designs. Each tribe has its own design. Today some carpets are still made in this way; however most are made on upright looms in state-owned factories.


FAMILY LIFE

Family Structure

Traditional Turkmen households consist of a male head, his wife, and their sons with their wives and children. A man leaves his father's household and begins his own household when he is between 30 and 40 years old. By this time he will usually be married with his own children. Once his household is established, he will marry off his daughters in order of their age. The youngest son must stay with his parents, to look after them in their old age. Turkmen society has great respect for old age.


Marriage

Traditional Turkmen families practise arranged marriages, ensuring a match between the correct tribes. A father receives a bride price for each daughter, in camels, sheep or cash. He must also pay a small amount of money to the groom's family for bringing up their son. This is known as "milk rights".


Women in Family Life

Once a girl is married, she must totally identify herself with her new family. In traditional households, women cover their heads and eat separately from the men, especially when guests are present. A wife is expected to produce a child in the first year. If after some years she has not, this can lead to family tension, even divorce.


Names

Every Turkmen's name has a meaning, often based on the day that the child was born; if it is a holiday, a boy may be called Bayram. Girls' names often reflect the desire to have sons, especially when there are already older sisters: a common name is Ogulgerek, which means "need-a-boy".


RELIGIOUS LIFE

Islam

During the 70 years of Communism, many mosques and other places of worship were closed. Since independence in 1991, Islam is openly practised again and is becoming more prominent. The Turkmen belong to the Hanafi School of Sunni Islam. However, today Islam is as much a matter of identity as of belief. Most people know little or nothing about their Islamic religion, nor in fact any religion. Many Turkmen practise "Folk Islam", incorporating traditional beliefs such as the "evil eye" with orthodox Islam.


Contact with Christianity

Before their contact with Islam, some of the Turkmen's ancestors may have been Christians. Cross-like symbols can be seen in some traditional Turkmen designs, and some scholars believe that the carpet pattern of the Tekke tribe depicts the Christian symbol of three crosses.

Christianity is seen by many Turkmen as the Russian religion, and Jesus as the Russian God. During Soviet rule, local churches consisted entirely of Russians and some Armenians. In the years that followed independence Turkmen have been added to their number, and an indigenous Turkmen Christian movement has begun.

Recently the government has severly restricted religious freedoms and the emerging church has experienced severe persecution. There is much to be done to help it reach maturity, as it struggles not only to stand firm against outside opposition and active persecution, but also to understand internal stresses. The New Testament has been translated, and work on the Old Testament is under way. There are still thousands of Turkmen who need to hear the gospel of Jesus.


PLEASE PRAY:

• For the President, his ministers and advisers, that they would govern wisely and justly.
• For Turkmen believers, that they would stand firm against opposition and grow in maturity and knowledge of the Scriptures.
• For those doing translating the Scriptures in the Turkmen language.
• For each local church: growth in knowledge, grace, unity and numbers.
• For all those involved in spiritual ministry, that they would be strong in the Lord, full of grace and truth.
• For all those involved in serving in practical ways, that they would not be weary of doing good.
• For more people to get involved in what God is doing in Turkmenistan.

This people profile was produced by our partner ministry © People International 2001.