Kumzari-Kurdish connection sparks speculation of shared heritage

A journey to the remote Omani village of Kumzar, perched at the northern tip of the Sultanate’s Musandam Peninsula and overlooking the strategic Strait of Hormuz, has uncovered remarkable linguistic similarities between the local Kumzari language and Kurdish, hinting at a possible ancient connection. Traveling more than 2,000 kilometers from Erbil, a Rudaw team set out to explore the origins of Kumzari, a rare and isolated language spoken by roughly 4,000 people in Oman’s Musandam province. Tucked between steep cliffs and the Sea of Oman, the village of Kumzar is reachable only by boat, contributing to its long-standing seclusion and linguistic preservation. Historical sources, including Yaqut al-Hamawi's 13th-century “Dictionary of Countries,” describe the Kumzari people as being of Lor or Iranian origin. However, modern linguists have increasingly drawn attention to strong linguistic ties between Kumzari and Kurdish. Elders and local scholars in Kumzar told Rudaw that many words and expressions in Kumzari closely resemble Kurdish. They also noted that traditional recitations and oral histories share striking similarities with Kalhori Kurdish songs - both in rhythm and linguistic structure. While definitive scientific proof of a direct Kurdish origin remains to be established, the substantial linguistic overlap strongly suggests a shared heritage that may date back centuries. #rudaw