The international promotional program for Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye’s first and only UNESCO City of Literature, was held with great prestige at the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM). Hosted by Fulya Kalfa and İbrahim Sadri, the landmark event commenced with a minute of silence and the national anthem, paying homage to the nation’s martyrs before celebrating the rich cultural landscape of a city where “words are turned into banners.”
The launch underscored Kahramanmaraş’s global ascension within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kireççi, representing the UNESCO National Commission, detailed the rigorous 12-year journey culminating in this prestigious registration, recognising the city’s profound historical and contemporary contributions to world literature. The program also featured a special message from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and an official promotional screening highlighting the region’s deep-rooted heritage.
A Living Library and a Spirit of Resilience
Throughout the evening, the philosophical and physical dimensions of Kahramanmaraş were eloquently articulated by key leaders:
- Mayor Fırat Görgel emphasized the city’s structural commitment to literature, noting its 30 active libraries, specialized writing workshops, and international book fairs designed to nurture future wordsmiths. He concluded with a global vision: “Our word is open to the world. Our heart is open to humanity. Our dialogue with the world is only just beginning.”
- Prof. Dr. Vahit Kirişçi (Member of Parliament and former Minister of Agriculture and Forestry) anchored the evening in the city’s resilience following the February 6 earthquake. He bridged Kahramanmaraş’s material strengths—such as providing 10% of the nation’s electricity and its prominence in textiles—with its immense cultural value as a certified global literary capital.
- Hüseyin Yaman (AK Party Deputy Chairman and Head of Culture and Arts Policies) drew a poetic parallel between the city’s history and its current global recognition, stating that Kahramanmaraş, which earned its historical medal during the War of Independence, now holds a new international medal in literature. “Kahramanmaraş is more than a city; it is a spirit, an open-air museum, and an open library,” Yaman noted.
The evening, punctuated by İbrahim Sadri’s moving recitations of master poets like Cahit Zarifoğlu, Erdem Bayazıt, and Nuri Pakdil, concluded with an enchanting musical performance by Coşkun Karademir and Ayfer Vardar, who performed compositions crafted directly from the verses of legendary Maraş poets.
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