Grand Master Özay My Heart Is Not Forgotten

Denizli Metropolitan Municipality did not forget Özay Güldüm, the great folk poet raised by the city, on the 22nd anniversary of his death.

Introducing Denizli's folk culture and melodies to the whole world, the unforgettable folk poet Özay Güldüm was commemorated with a ceremony organized by Denizli Metropolitan Municipality on the 22nd anniversary of his death. The ceremony held in front of the monumental statue of the master artist in front of the Çatalçeşme Chamber Theater was attended by Denizli Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Ali Değirmenci, Denizli Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Turan Veli Akyol, Metropolitan Municipality Culture and Social Affairs Department Head Hüdaverdi Otaklı, Kızılcabölüklüler Foundation President Osman Erik, his relatives and many fans. joined. The ceremony, which started with the Deputy Chairman Değirmenci laying a wreath on the monument, continued with a moment of silence and the National Anthem. Noting that they commemorate the great folk poet Özay Güldüm, who passed away 22 years ago, with respect, gratitude and mercy, Değirmenci said, “People are mortal like all living things, but the works they left behind are one of the features that distinguish artists from other people. The great master Özay Güldüm made a great effort to keep both his name and his works alive after him, and made his own name immortal by adding nearly 3500 compilations and 200 of them to the TRT repertoire. As the Metropolitan Municipality, we both organize a program in front of the monument here on March 1 every year, and organize a night of commemoration and respect with a program consisting of his works.”

“He packed great works in his short life”

Deputy Chairman Değirmenci continued his speech as follows: “Of course, Özay Güldüm was a unique artist with his three instruments, his folk songs, his compilations, his theater, his ability to imitate and the folk songs he told. He was an elder of ours who made great efforts in the formation of Turkish folk culture and the culture of bard. We lost him at a young age, but he packed great works into his short life. Today, wherever we hear the name Özay Güldüm, we commemorate with respect and mercy. We, as the Metropolitan Municipality, are making great efforts not to forget the name Özay Güldüm, with the name we gave to one of the most beautiful squares of Denizli and our monument here, and the name we gave to the biggest hall of our Nihat Zeybekci Congress and Culture Center, in order to keep its name alive. One of our goals here is to remind both the younger generations and the next generations the name Özay Glum in the best way possible, and we do our best to preserve this name as the value it deserves for future generations. I would like to thank everyone for participating in this program.”