Debate emerges over the origin of the zeibekiko dance

On June 14, an event organized by Alzheimer Hellas and the Association of Friends of the Greek Alzheimer Society is scheduled to take place in Thessaloniki, aiming to break the Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous zeibekiko dance. The Turkish newspaper Milliyet has criticized the event, accusing Greece of cultural appropriation and claiming that the zeibekiko is derived from the Turkish zeybek dance. The newspaper cited social media reactions from Turkey that echo these sentiments. Historical context suggests that the Greek zeibekiko evolved from Ottoman and Asia Minor traditions, becoming established in Greece following the 1922 population exchange. While some researchers emphasize the common roots between the two, others maintain that the Greek version, associated with 19th and 20th-century rebetiko music, is distinct from the Turkish zeybek. Beyond this cultural dispute, media reports have also noted concerns regarding potential geopolitical tensions between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. This cultural debate is occurring amidst a broader climate of heightened diplomatic friction between the two nations.