MKM Van restarting its studies
HASAN YOLDAŞ
VAN (DİHA) - The Mesopotamia Cultural Centre (MKM) in Van, whose building was destroyed in the earthquake of 2011, has reopened. The MKM intends to commence courses on 15 February. More than 100 people have enrolled for courses such as guitar, flute, saz, violin, piano and drama. Training, research and archive units have been set up with the aim of providing a more cohesive programme for the courses.
There are MKM branches in 15 provinces of Turkey and the region with many associations affiliated to it. Hundreds of musicians and artists have been trained and opportunities provided for the development of Kurdish musicians and traditional and modern dance groups. Despite the persecution and closure it has faced since the founding of the organisation, the MKM has carried out important work in the protection and development of Kurdish culture.
Hüseyin Akdoğan, the director of the Van branch of the MKM, said that the organisation endeavoured to struggle against the assimilation of Kurdish culture and to take possession of it. He added that while protecting Kurdish culture they also worked to preserve and develop the cultural values of other peoples in the Middle East and in addition to Kurdish produced work in the languages of other communities in Turkey.
Dengbêj (troubadour) house to reopen
Akdoğan said that the AKM had opened in Van in 1999 and worked in the cultural field until the earthquake of 2011 had forced to them to suspend their activities. He said the first troubadour house to open in the region had been destroyed by the earthquake, but that the MKM would soon reopen it. He said the MKM had overcome certain problems and would soon be able to continue its work of reintroducing Kurdish culture to the people, emphasising that they would not allow the culture of the Kurdish people to be eradicated.
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