Ahmet Kaya's Legacy

Ahmet Kaya's Legacy

I'm proud to come from the Anatolian land, however there are many troubles in this old country/area.  Here is an example.  

Ahmet Kaya was at one time the number one seller for fantasy/folk/turko rock music, and he was one of my favourite.  

The problem (for him) was he was Kurdish.   Turkey is a country of close to 70 million, and of that number about 20 million are Kurds.   

In the olden days, Turks and Kurds, and other ethnic groups within this nation fought side by side against the imperial powers.  However, since about the mid 1970s, there is an emphasis on what your back ground is in Turkey. This divide got worse, before slowly getting better now.  

But in 1999 this is what happened to Ahmet Kaya.   

Ahmet Kaya drinking tea

He went on a show, and declared that in his future album, he was going to sing a song in Kurdish, this became a big deal and eventually he was declared that he insulted the Turkish identity and was going to be jailed, therefore he took off to France.   This all happened while he was the number one singer in Turkey.  

In France, until is death only a short year later, he kept telling the Turkish authorities that he had not said anything wrong and he declared that he wanted to come back to his country as he missed his country, friends, family etc.   However, the Turkish government did not forgive him and advised him that his prison sentence would stand.   

Ahmet Kaya died in October of the year 2000 and his wife said that he died of the heartache he had for his country.   This really upset me and many folks back then and even now.   The Turkish government has not apologized for this event yet and there are repeated requests by Kurds, his family and friends.  

My son is named after him.   My side of the family does not have any Kurdish, we have a bit of Syrian from about 7 generations back and my parents can still speak levantine Arabic, I can a bit...

My wife's grandmother was Kurdish, therefore my son is one forth Kurdish now.  My son Ahmet is one forth as following: 

Kurdish, Turkish, Canadian and Arabic, I'm very proud of this.  

My son Ahmet and his Jeep

Ahmet Kaya and his daughter

Back to Ahmet Kaya, because of his stand with  the Turkish government, Kurdish language is recognized now and there is even a Kurdish radio/TV and so on.  He paved the way for many within this country.   

May he rest in peace.    

Ben here

Bir Omur

Bir Omur

          Maziye don bak 

'Bir omur uzulmusum, bundan sonra dokunmaz bana' --- Ben Oak

The life of Esengul, Part II

The life of Esengul, Part II

Now, here is the much requested, and anticipated part II of 'Esengul's' life.  

        A poster from the streets of Istanbul 

In part I, I wrote up-until the night of March 30'th, of 1979, you can find the link below:

http://onlythebrave10.blogspot.ca/2014/01/the-life-of-esengul-part-i.html?m=0

now, here is the conclusion. 

I will begin part II by writing about the in-famous night that I like to refer to as the 'start' of Esengul's last 20 days, prior to the car crash.  

        Scene from her single movie

It was approximately 11:00 PM on March 30, 1979, and she was performing at 'Semiramis Gazinosu', which translates to English to mean, 'Semiramis Bar'.  A man with connections to the Mafia named Ismail Hacısuleymanoglu, who went by the name "Oflu İsmail", which translates to English to mean "Hurting Ismail" was seating at a table drinking.   While 'Esengul' was performing a song, 'Oflu Ismail' stands up and yells to the singer to say 'Taht Kurmussun Kalbime parcasini bana oku!', again, a translation is required, he yells out to say "Sing me the song 'your on the throne of my heart'". 

I have attached a link of this song below, please take time to listen to this heartbreaking, emotional masterpiece of a song from late 1970's.  

http://youtu.be/7Li5ElKnIAw

        Number 1 singer from the mid 1970s

Esengul, stops singing and the band stopped playing as well since an argument irrupted at the corner of 'Semiramis Bar'.   We are then shocked to learn that the owner of the Bar 'Akbulut Karaoglu' and lead waiter 'Hasan Yolal' are shot and killed, while numerous people are injured.   

'Esengul' is able to get away unharmed.  

'Oflu Ismail' also gets away.   

Now, begins the count down to April 18, 1979.  

All of the events in 'Esengul's' life are unfortunately coming to a crashing end.  

Number 1, the Mafia connected rival boyfriends are trying to win her love, 

Number 2, 'Oflu Ismail' is no-where to be found, and wants vengeance for her since she did not sing the song, he requested, and caused the fight/killings,

Number 3, the 'Police' is questioning her of the shooting, and finally,

Number 4, the Mafia bosses are getting nervous that 'Esengul'' might speak to the Police about them regarding other criminal events that she surely would have witnessed as a lover.   

         Beutiful 

April 18, 1979, 'Esengul' and her current lover 'Faruk Ozfıratlı' were driving in his car to drop her off at her residence, when the car could not 'break/stop' and hit a wall at very high speed.   We soon learn that the vehicles 'break cables' were cut, and therefore it could not negotiate a turn in the road, and the shocking crash was the result.  

'Esengul' died at the very young age of 24.  

No person was arrested and charged for her death.  

On April 18, 2014, it will be the 35 year anniversary of her untimely death.  

Rest in Peace. Esen (Esengul) Agan. 

Sincerely,

Ben