Famous Ashiq-poets include such gifted poets as Gurbani, ashiq Abbas from Tufargan, Xəstə Qasım (Hasta Gasym), ashiq Valeh, Ashig Alasgar and many others. Ashiq-poets have their own schools, where they teach their students the basics of ashiq creativity. In Azerbaijan, such Ashiqs were called Ustad, which translates from Persian as a 'master'. Īshiq-poets, on the contrary, along with storytelling activities, engaged also in poetry. Due to their individual abilities and a keen understanding of the specifics of the native folklore, they make different kinds of variations and changes in their epics and legends, especially in their prose. Ashiq-performers, despite being professional storytellers, are not engaged in poetry. In modern Azerbaijan, professional Ashiqs were divided into two categories: Ashiq-performers and Ashiq-poets.

Modern history and worldwide acceptance (1991–present) Monuments have been made for the ashiqs, their works added to school books and their anniversaries have been celebrated not only in Azerbaijan SSR but also in neighboring Georgian SSR and Armenian SSR, where Ashig Alasgar was born. In 1938, the first congress of Azerbaijani ashiqs have been held and the large collection of ashiq poetry has been published. As Soviet Union highly appreciated the art, during the Cultural Revolution the ashiq art, along with the mugham art of Azerbaijan has been developed while meykhana faced with certain restrictions. During the 20th century, ashiq performances on concert stages, the radio and television became common.īeginning in the 1930s, the Art of Azerbaijani ashiqs, like all folk music culture of the peoples of the USSR fell under the strictest control of the state government. įrom the 16th century, Azerbaijani ashiqs have been the bearers and guardians of the national language, national identity and the music performed in weddings, parties and folk festivals. The earliest traces of art of Azerbaijani ashiqs can be found in the 7th century Book of Dede Korkut, which contains the most famous epic stories of the Oghuz Turks. In addition to songs of his own, in repertory, Ashiq includes epic tales and folk songs. Some encyclopedias define Ashiq as a folk singer-poet of Caucasus and neighboring nations.

In today's encyclopedic dictionaries the word Ashiq, which means 'one who is in love', is derived from the Arabic and Persian. 2.3 Modern history and worldwide acceptance (1991–present).

Bangla baul song ashiq