Cairo – Amr Yehia – Atlas News | Exclusive
The Turkish Embassy in Cairo recently commemorated the 89th anniversary of the passing of Turkish national poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy, author of the Turkish national anthem. Ersoy, a celebrated poet, writer, and academic, left an indelible mark on Turkish history by penning the country’s national anthem.
During the ceremony, the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Institute in Cairo presented a comprehensive overview of Ersoy’s life, intellectual world, works, and years spent in Egypt.
The event was attended by over 100 guests, including representatives from Egyptian cultural and artistic circles, students of the Yunus Emre Institute, and Egyptian journalists.
The ceremony included recitations of the Turkish National Anthem and Ersoy’s poem „To the Martyrs of Çanakkale” in Turkish and Arabic.
Turkish Ambassador to Cairo, Salih Mutlu Şen, emphasized Ersoy’s role in inspiring national unity and resistance during Turkey’s struggle for independence.
Ersoy spent about 10 years in Egypt, teaching Turkish language and literature at Cairo University and cultivating close relationships with prominent Egyptian figures. He frequented the Fishawi Café in Khan el-Khalili and wrote poems about Aswan and Luxor.
Ersoy was born in Istanbul in 1873 and came from a scholarly family. His father, Sheikh Mehmet Tahir Efendi, guided him towards linguistic and religious studies. Ersoy is considered Turkey’s „national poet,” expressing the nation’s values and spirit through his works, including the iconic national anthem.
