Jampan

Jampan is an early chapter of the life of Haiganoush Melkonian, my grandmother, who escaped Turkey in the early 1940s. After the newly formed Republic of Turkey demanded many Christians who still remained post-genocide to assist in the creation of the railway, despite their profession. My great-grandfather Harutyun, as well as many other male relatives, were forced out of their family businesses and made to work. Harutyun decided to leave on foot with his eldest daughter Haiganoush, who was denied a passport due to her age and ability to assimilate into Turkish school and life. They paid a smuggler to bring them to Homs in Syria, where they had relatives living, and despite close calls with death, the pair made it safely.

Today, my Nene shares her stories with me in her kitchen in London, as we cook Köfte together.

Jampan was featured in HearSay International Audio Arts Festival 2021 as part of the Multitrack Fellowship.