Musician Vedat Yıldırım Evaluates the Resolution Process and Cultural Pluralism
Musician Vedat Yıldırım emphasized that the resolution process has created new hopes for social peace and cultural diversity, calling for emancipation in the public sphere.
Musician Vedat Yıldırım, one of the founders of the Kardeş Türküler and Bajar bands, stated that significant changes have taken place in the fields of identity politics and cultural pluralism over the last 30 years, expressing that the resolution process has created a new hope for social peace.
Cultural Diversity and the Post-1990 Transformation
Stating that the struggle for identity politics in Turkey has covered significant ground over the past 30 years, Vedat Yıldırım expressed that the milestone of this transformation was the 1990s, when bans on the use of languages other than Turkish began to partially loosen. Stating that this change was also reflected in the fields of culture and art, Yıldırım noted that music albums, newspapers, and magazines emerged in ancient languages such as Laz, Kurdish, Homshetsi, Syriac, and Romani.
The Status of Languages in the Public Sphere
Stating that despite the diminishing impact of the period of denial, the languages and cultures of peoples face various problems, Yıldırım noted that cultural hierarchy constitutes an obstacle to the expression of languages under equal conditions. He emphasized that the inability of languages to leave homes and participate in a natural network of circulation is a major problem.
Challenges Faced by Mother Tongues and Local Cultures
Stating that the insufficient use of languages other than Turkish in the economic, cultural, and intellectual fields of daily life reduces the appeal of these languages, Yıldırım expressed that the usage areas of Laz, Zaza-Kirmanckî, and Romani, in particular, have narrowed. He voiced that families distancing their children from their mother tongues is one of the most visible results of this process.
The Process and the Role of Local Governments
Stating that with the progression of the process, internal social peace could be strengthened and people could more comfortably carry their languages into the public sphere, Yıldırım expressed that important duties fall not only on central governments but also on local governments in this regard. He said that with the end of trustee practices, local governments' work in the field of culture could be strengthened.
Kardeş Türküler's 'Yan Yana' Performance
Calling on artists to contribute to the socialization of the resolution process, Yıldırım stated that Kardeş Türküler has been carrying out work in this field for years. He recalled that they brought together the music, dances, and rituals of different peoples on the same stage during the 'Yan Yana' (Side by Side) performance held at the Istanbul Harbiye Open-Air Stage in July.