The 5th edition of Ma Music Days, organised by Ma Music Academy with the motto “Em ê zarokên vî welatî bê muzîk nehêlin” (We will not leave the children of this country without music), commenced in Diyarbakır (Amed) on Wednesday.
The opening event took place at the Ma Music Centre and featured the participation of families of the students enrolled in Ma Music, their instructors, Lisa Çalan from the Middle East Cinema Academy, and the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD).
During the event, instructor Helin Kılıçarslan shared her enthusiasm, stating, “The excitement I feel extends beyond today; every day is filled with joy as I teach music to children who started from scratch and exerted tremendous effort to reach this stage. We believe that these efforts should not be limited to this event and we will take it further.”
On the first day of Ma Music Days, the students showcased their musical talents by playing the violin, saz (a traditional stringed musical instrument commonly used in Kurdish music), and various other instruments in the garden of the music academy. Presenter Ferhat Ertaş took a moment during the event to acknowledge the imprisoned journalists and workers in the free press in Turkey, saluting them and their work.
Ma Music Coordinator Şêrko Kanîwar was detained on 23 May as part of the investigation conducted by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the Kurdish press. He was released the following day. However, several other journalists are still in detention, awaiting trial.
Following the musical performances, the first day concluded with students being presented with carnations. The Ma Music Days events will continue until 10 June.