Van craftsman Tevhid Topal preserves traditional bağlama making

Tevhid Topal, a master instrument maker based in Van, Turkey, has spent nearly half a century preserving the traditional craft of making bağlama. Having learned the trade in 1979 under his father, İbrahim Topal (known as Aşık Dermani), Topal moved his workshop to Van in 1992.

Topal emphasizes quality and manual craftsmanship over mass production. He notes that while mass-produced instruments often have a short lifespan, his handcrafted bağlamas are built to last, with some customers returning for maintenance on instruments made 30 years ago. In addition to manufacturing, Topal performs on the instrument and works to pass these skills on to new generations of apprentices.