Mythologies of the Godoberi Tribe
The Godoberi are a subgroup of the Avar people. In fact, they weren’t recognized as a unique people group until 1926 – when finally recorded as Godoberi in a census. This is just one example of a complex self-identity. The Godoberi are a distinct people group, separate from all others. However, since they have a relation to the large Avar people, they also carry their identity. They live in a region very distinct from the rest of Russia, therefore they carry a Dagestan/North Caucasus general identity. On top of this, they are a part of Russia – and especially because of the Soviet Union, carry a Russian influenced identity, but they are not Russian. The Godoberi’s self-call themselves Gibdidi (гъибдиди) – “the Raven’s eye”. Legend has it that their name comes from their early settlers who, being skilled with the bow and arrow, could hit the eye of a raven in full flight. As a small minority they number 3,000-4,000, while Dagestan’s total population is three million. Even in their native Dagestan, it’s not necessarily a well known nation. The Godoberi mountain villages are located on the Western border of Dagestan, bordering Chechnya. They have three villages just Southwest of Botlik named Ziberkhali, Beledi, and Godoberi (the central village region). These villages sit high in elevation, about 70 miles (as the crow flies) from the Caspian Sea coastline. The other village is further north, sitting Northwest of Khasavyurt in a plains area, called Terechnoe. The Andi-Koisu River Basin is the region where the southern Godoberi villages are located. It was first mentioned by ancient Greeks and Romans. The peoples in this region have possessed good trade relations throughout their history. The Godoberi district within the region is Botlikh. It is one of the forty-one districts within Dagestan. In the 16th Century, the Godoberi formed essentially their own functioning free community. This community chose an elder and judges to rule over them. On 1806, they came under Russian rule with the rest of Dagestan. However, only in the 1860s was the ruling truly asserted. Great opportunities came with the Russian rule, but so did new suppression.
“The history of the Godoberi doesn’t sit in one place”, said a village man. He meant that there isn’t one version of their history that is the exact same, but there are variations. They are okay with that. You can read about a version of their origins in my article: "The Raven's Eye: Introducing the Godoberi". However, now I've been welcomed by friends into the Godoberi village, and can give first hand information from them directly. Here is what I have learned thus far from a few men on the origins of the Godoberi: Three brothers came to the land 2000 years ago, and quickly noticed the value and natural beauty. All three brothers wanted the land. To settle the dispute, the oldest brother said if he could hit the eye of a raven with his bow and arrow, he would win the land, and the others would have to look elsewhere. They agreed to his terms. He waited for a raven, then took up his bow and readied his arrow. Then on the first shot he hit the middle of the eye of the raven in full flight. One younger brother then had to settle in what is today known as Lower Godoberi, and the other settled further west in what is know today as Ziberhali (another Godoberi village). Two hunters from Iran came through the region on a hunt 3000 years ago. They were in the military and started bringing their families over to settle in the North Caucasus. One day, one of the men hit the eye of a raven with his bow in full flight. The next day they decided to return to the place where they hit the eye of the raven, and then decided to settle there. As mentioned in my other article, the name "Godoberi" comes from "the eye of the raven". However, now I know that not only are theses root words in the Avar language, but also the Godoberi language. In the Godoberi language: “Gherdu” or “Gandi” means “Raven” and “Ber” means “Eye”. The Godoberi village is a place where something is different in the air. Going back thousands of years, not only locals, but outsiders visited and said: “The air here is fresher, the herbs are stronger, and the meat tastes better”. To this day, local men would gladly stop a woman carrying herbs to let me really smell its richness.
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