ulül

Ulül is a ceremonial concept in the Verdai tradition, used to describe a structured ritual of communal memory and storytelling. The term is said to derive from Verdai roots meaning recall and collect, with the ritual acting as a formal vessel for preserving collective knowledge.

Definition and scope: Ulül refers to a ritual that blends oral history, song, and dance to preserve genealogies, legal codes, and place-narratives. It is typically performed at communal gatherings, often around seasonal transitions such as the winter solstice or harvest time, and is understood as a collective act rather than an individual performance.

Practice: The ritual is led by a designated performer, sometimes called the Ulülari, who recites lineage, laws, and significant events. Participants contribute refrains, echoing phrases, and improvised verses, creating a cumulative narrative. Performances may take place in a circle or along a central aisle, and can last for several hours, sometimes spanning multiple nights at larger gatherings.

Social function and variation: Ulül reinforces social cohesion by creating a shared memory that crosses generations and kin groups. It can serve as a mechanism for dispute resolution, as the collective memory provides context for decisions and norms. Regional variants exist, with differences in musical style, tempo, and the emphasis given to certain stories or laws.

Contemporary usage: In Verdai literature and speculative ethnography, ulül is used as a case study of memory institutions in small societies. It is often cited to illustrate how storytelling, ritual, and social authority intertwine in maintaining cultural continuity.

See also: Oral tradition, ritual, folklore, memory.