London Yunus Emre Institute is organizing a series of events between 20-23 October, 2021 to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Yunus Emre's death. Yunus Emre, who gives the name of the Institute, which promotes Turkish language and culture all over the world, has had a great influence on Turkish literature and philosophical thought from his time to the present. London Yunus Emre Institute, Turkey's Consulate General in Edinburgh and ATAS (Scotland Turkish Graduates and Students Association) are holding joint events in Edinburgh for 3 days in honor of this important anniversary.

The event, which is held as part of the 2021 Yunus Emre Year announced by UNESCO, commemoration events included the Voices from Yunus Emre concert (October 20, 2021, Wednesday) under the supervision of Baha Yetkin, an oud artist; marbling workshop with artist Esma Uğurluoğlu ( October 22, 2021, Friday) and the closing film screening of Yunus Emre: Voice of Love (October 23, 2021, Saturday) about Yunus Emre's life.

VOICES FROM YUNUS EMRE CONCERT

Baha Yetkin, an oud player and Turkish music teacher who grew up in Istanbul, the place where East and West synthesis is best blended, will be accompanied by Alexandros Koustas on kemenche, Alp Genç on ney and Muammer Sağlam on percussion. The concert will take place on October 20, 2021 at the Assembly Roxy, one of Edinburgh's most exclusive concert halls.

One of the most important sources of lyrics in Sufi music is Yunus Emre's poems, which have simple rhythmic lines and spiritual depth. More than 250 of his simple and rhythmic poems, which basically emphasize divine love, were composed in Turkish sufi music and circulated from language to language. Thanks to these compositions, Yunus Emre's poems and philosophy, which started centuries ago, have survived to the present day by living among the people.

In the concert, which will be further enriched with the informative speeches that Baha Yetkin will make about Yunus Emre and the values he represents, the musicians will give a musical feast to the listeners with these strings that conquer the hearts. The concert will be unforgettable for those who are interested in the themes of friendship, brotherhood, divine love and mysticism.

Artists who grew up in Anatolia, where Yunus Emre's humanist teachings such as peace, brotherhood and love have lived for 700 years, will carry these teachings to Edinburgh. They will build a bridge of love from Anatolia to the world with the Yunus Emre notes pouring out of their instruments and the lyrics they sing. Our artists, who have been representing musical instruments such as oud, kemenche and ney for many years, will come together for the first time for Yunus Emre hymns.

Activity: Voices From Yunus Emre Concert

Venue: Assembly Roxy

Date: October 20, 2021, Wednesday

Opening: 6:00 p.m.

Concert Beginning: 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: £5

TRADITIONAL TURKISH MARBLING ART (EBRU) WORKSHOP

In the second part of the commemoration event, which will take place on October 22, Friday one of the most popular traditional arts, marbling (ebru) workshop will be held.

Although it has been used to decorate the inside covers of books for centuries, marbling is an independent art form today. The art of marbling is made by dripping paints onto a thick water to create some motifs and transferring them onto the paper.

Traditional Turkish handicrafts artist Esma Uğurluoğlu will inform the workshop participants about the execution and history of the art of marbling. During the workshop, participants will receive basic information about the art of marbling, such as the history of it, the tools used, paints, materials and the making of traditional patterns; and they will have the opportunity to return to their homes with the marbling pieces they made themselves!

Venue: Balcony Room, Teviot Row House Student Union 13 Bristo Pl, Edinburgh EH8 9AJ

Date: October 22, 2021, Friday

Time: 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Tickets: Free

YUNUS EMRE: THE VOICE OF LOVE FILM SCREENING

The event will continue with the screening of Yunus Emre: Voice of Love on October 23, 2021, Saturday. After the screening, a question-and-answer interview will be held with the screenwriter and director of the film, Kürşat Kızbaz. The film, which tells the story of Yunus Emre's process of becoming a dervish, considered the pioneer of Turkish poetry, begins with the journey of Yunus Emre, a peasant living in war-torn 13th century Anatolia, in pursuit of divine love. The film, which includes the lives of Anatolian saints from Haji Bektash Veli to Taptuk Emre, from Rumi to Sari Saltuk, offers a glimpse into the lives of Yunus Emre and the most important figures of Sufism.

Venue: Study Room, Teviot Row House Student Union 13 Bristo Pl, Edinburgh EH8 9AJ

Date: October 23, 2021, Saturday

Time: 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Tickets: Free

We invite all Yunus lovers and those who want to meet Yunus to this series of events, where Yunus' teachings will meet with Edinburgh residents, with his verses:

Let's be friends

Let's make it easier. 

Let's love and be loved

The world shall be left to no one.

In the concert, which will be held with the support of London Yunus Emre Institute and ATAS organization, Consulate General in Edinburgh and Turkish Airlines, they will bring together the hymns of Yunus Emre, one of the spiritual architects of Anatolia, with their visions of blending Europe and Anatolia in their own style.