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Riddle is a literary genre, which has roots in the ancient layers of human history encompassing the entire range of human culture. Although the most important characteristic of this genre is that it has been transmitted orally, its written records in Persian literature and culture date back to the pre-Islamic literature and the Avestan language. Therefore, it seems that the riddle-telling tradition has prevailed among all Iranian ethnic groups and sub-cultures, especially The Kurds and the people of Ilam. Among the most important reasons behind the popularity of riddle-telling tradition in the culture and language of Ilam, one can mention the aspects of entertainment, creativity, memory and mind enhancement, which are associated with the genre. Generally, Ilami riddles can be categorized into six groups: plants and fruits; animals and animal parts; human and human moods and organs and tissues; man-made tools and products; natural elements and components; and human sciences. Obviously, the folk culture and the riddle tradition, which is called ‘Chaw-cha’ (roughly ‘what and what’) in the Ilami native language, today are on the verge of annihilation, and are being endangered due to the passing away of the previous generation who preserved the tradition in their hearts, and also due to the advent of modern communication technologies like TV, radio, Internet, mobile phones, satellites, etc.

Keywords: Riddle, Literature, Folk culture, Ilami Kurdish

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