The Mesopotamia Cultural Centre (MKM), founded in Istanbul by a group of writers and artists including the great Kurdish journalist Musa Anter, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with a special event at the Bostancı Show Centre on Saturday 16 October.
Last year attendance at various cultural organisations and foundations was limited due to the covid-19 restrictions.
Through the years the MKM has turned out many important shows, ranging from music and theatre through to cinema and folk dance displays. The preparations for the 30th anniversary event, called Berbang (Dawn), started months ago. Sixteen artists and three groups will take the stage on the day.
MKM artists too will perform their last rehearsals before the concert.
Nurcan Değirmenci, one of the MKM artists, shared a message of celebration and support for the MKM. “It has been a 30-year journey of culture and art,
and we have been putting all our energy into our activities for around two months. The rallying cry, as you know, is Berbang. I invite all our people to celebrate our 30th year together at the Bostancı Show Centre,” she said.
The artists Xero Abbas, Gülseven Medar, Mikail Aslan, Ferit Elalmış, Nuray Balık, Engin Cengiz, Weysi Ermiş, Nurcan Değirmenci, Ümit Uçar, Nurhak Kılagöz, Genim, Mervan Tan, Deniz Esmer, Ruken Yılmaz and Talat Yeşil, and the groups Koma Ma, Hinek Henek and Koma Jinên Surê will take the stage at the concert.
The previous MKM premises in Taksim in Beyoğlu, Istanbul, were taken over by the authorities despite the MKM having a contract for the building, and the Foundations General Directorate put the building out to tender three times. As a result, the building was assigned to the district governorship of Beyoğlu.
