As reported earlier, Vagif Poetry Days took place in Shusha from July 17 to 19 under the organization of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture.
We present a comprehensive overview of the festival of literature and arts.
The poetry festival began on July 18 in front of the Molla Panah Vagif Museum and Mausoleum Complex.
The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the state and government, prominent figures of literature, science, and culture of the Republic, as well as residents of Shusha who returned to their homeland in May this year.
Chingiz Abdullayev, the people's writer and first secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers (UAW), expressed his happiness at participating in such a grand event in Shusha. He noted that this year's Vagif Poetry Days coincided with several important occasions: "It is the first poetry festival conducted under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, after the complete restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Shusha holds the title of "Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2024". This year coincides with the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Muhammad Fuzuli and the 90th anniversary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers. Over 100 members of the Union are taking part in this year's event”.
Academician Isa Habibbayli, President of ANAS, spoke about Molla Panah Vagif's literary contributions. He highlighted that Vagif was the first to extensively introduce Azerbaijani geography into our literature, celebrating the land's beauty: "Vagif praised the beauty of Azerbaijan in his poetry. He brought the vernacular into literature at a high level. His creativity is, first of all, an Azerbaijani phenomenon."
The scholar noted that at the time when the USSR was discreetly pursuing its internationalist movement in Karabakh, the national leader Heydar Aliyev built a grand mausoleum for Vagif in Shusha, which was a sign of Azerbaijan's presence in Karabakh. It is important to restore it in all its glory. The newly organized Vagif Poetry Days are a great celebration of Azerbaijan, which is developing day by day under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, expressed through the language of poetry and art.
The people's writer Elmira Akhundova spoke about the boundless love and care of the national leader Heydar Aliyev for the Azerbaijani language and literature. She mentioned that during the most difficult periods of the Soviet era, Heydar Aliyev promoted the preservation and development of national consciousness and the concept of Azerbaijanism. He made sure that works that nurtured this idea and passed it on to future generations were awarded the State Prize.
Fazil Mustafa, a deputy of the 6th convocation of the Milli Majlis, said that the successful liberation of our lands was due to the outstanding organizational talent of President and Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and the exceptional bravery of the Azerbaijan Army. At present, Shusha, which has become a symbol of Azerbaijan, is being restored to its former glory.
People's Poet Sabir Rustamkhanli, Chairman of the Press Council of Azerbaijan and Deputy Chairman of the UAW Rashad Majid, Secretary of the UAW Selim Babullaoghlu, and Chairman of the Kazakh branch of the Union Barat Vusal spoke about the charm, exceptionality, and uniqueness of Shusha, which has become the venue of international events, and recited poems.
During the artistic part, a poetic duet based on the works of Mohammad Fuzuli and Molla Panah Vagif was performed by the honored artists Azad Shukurov and Nazir Rustamov.
The musical pieces "Karabagh", "Shusha Mountains" and "This is the Homeland" were performed by Honored Artist Nigar Shabanova and soloists Abgul Mirzaliyev, Ilkin Dovlatov, and Leyla Rahimli. The audience greeted the concert program with applause.
At the end, photos were taken to commemorate the event.
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The Vagif Poetry Days, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture continued with colorful events after the opening ceremony.
A theatrical composition titled "Fuzuli's Nexus," dedicated to the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Muhammad Fuzuli (1494-1556), was presented the same day in front of Khurshidbanu Natevan's house.
Speaking before the composition based on Fuzuli's works, Ilgar Fahmi, secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, spoke about the works of Muhammad Fuzuli. Fahmi highlighted the poet’s significant influence on native-language poetry. He mentioned that Mohammad Fuzuli's works such as "Bangu-bade," "Leyli and Majnun," "Sahhati-Maraz," and "Rindu-Zahid" were used in the artistic and musical composition.
Ilgar Fahmi wrote the script of the play, which aroused great interest among the audience, and the director is Honoured Artist Loghman Karimov.
Participants in the composition included honored artists from the Shusha State Musical Drama, State Pantomime, and State Yugh Theater: Nazir Rustamov, Azad Shukurov, Bahruz Vaqifoghlu, Teymur Mammadov, and Gasim Nagh, Orkhan Abishov, Pustakhanim Zeynalova, Jala Novruz, Zahra Salayeva, Surahi Alimammadova, Nurlan Rustamov, Javad Nuriyev, Elnur Ismayilov, and Nihat Heybatov. The Azerbaijan State Song and Dance Ensemble and students of the Baku Choreography Academy also took part in the performance.
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On July 18, as part of the Vagif Poetry Days, a modern poetry hour titled "The Motherland of the Word - Karabakh" took place in front of Khurshidbanu Natevan's house.
First, Ibrahim Ilyasli, the head of the poetry section of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers and the host of the event, shared his thoughts about the Poetry Days. He described it as a celebration of poetry, art, and spirituality. He also mentioned that this year's event was again organized at a high level.
Aghalar Bayramov, professor at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, honored artist and master of artistic recitation, recited patriotic poems.
Later, poets took the stage. Ramiz Gusarchayl, chairman of the Guba section of the UAW, writer, playwright, and translator Seyran Sakhavat, Elchin Isgenderzadeh, chairman of the Karabakh section of the UAW, poets and honored cultural workers Gasham Najafzadeh, Rafig Yusifoghlu, head of the press service of the UAW Khayal Rza, Farid Huseyn, and Intigam Yasar recited their poems on various subjects. Poems about Shusha were particularly well received.
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The day concluded with an ethno-jazz concert held in front of Khurshidbanu Natevan's house.
Jazz musician and pianist, Honoured Artist Emil Afrasiyab, performed a lively program at the concert, accompanied by Honoured Artist Iskander Alasgarov (drums) and Elvin Nabiyev (bass).
Before the concert began, Emil Afrasiyab addressed the audience and spoke about the historical significance of the Vagif Poetry Days in Shusha. He noted that just as free Karabakh is the symbol of modern, independent Azerbaijan, the Vagif Poetry Days are the symbol of the liberated Shusha.
He mentioned that the first ethno-jazz concert in Shusha will remain in the memory of all participants for a long time, and expressed confidence that similar events will be held more often in our fortress city.
Then, interesting performances were presented. The program included "Two worlds", "Extra Trace", "And I Love Her", "Aziza", "Rainy Day", "Letter to Father", "Fantasia", "Prayer", "Nueva" and other musical performances. The audience met the concert with loud applause.
The Vagif Poetry Days will end on July 19.
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A conference titled "Mohammed Fuzuli. Beyond Time" dedicated to the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Muhammad Fuzuli took place on July 19 at the Shusha Hotel-Congress Center. The event was moderated by Ilgar Fahmi, the Secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers.
Academician Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, Acting Vice-President of ANAS, and Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies named after Z. Bunyadov, mentioned that the conference was organized in accordance with the plan of events developed to implement the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the celebration of the 530th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet Muhammad Fuzuli: "For more than five centuries, the works of Muhammad Fuzuli have been appreciated by readers in Azerbaijan and all over the world. Although centuries have passed since Fuzuli wrote and created, the charm of his works does not diminish from year to year. On the contrary, with the passage of time, new generations, with their intelligence and comprehension, engage with the great poet's creativity on different levels and reinterpret it from their own point of view”.
The academician noted that in addition to the numerous events planned by ANAS to commemorate the 530th anniversary of the great poet's birth, extensive work is being done to research the poet's scientific legacy.
Academician Teymur Karimli, Director of the Institute of Manuscripts named after Muhammad Fuzuli of ANAS, said that in 1994, while Azerbaijan was progressing towards development and stabilization of its independence, a great historical and literary event was taking place in our country: "The 500th anniversary of Muhammad Fuzuli. Even amidst the turmoil, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev did not postpone the celebration of the jubilee of the great poet in those years that were challenging for the destiny of our country. Instead, he ensured that Fuzuli's anniversary was celebrated grandly through a series of celebrations in Azerbaijan, and neighbouring countries.
Poet Farid Huseyn, a member of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, spoke about the unique literary universe of Fuzuli. He emphasized that the timeless legacy created by Fuzuli will always remain relevant and adored by readers.
Deputy Minister of Culture Farid Jafarov said that after our historic victory, we are meeting for the fourth time in Shusha, our cultural capital, to celebrate Vagif Poetry Days: "It is a fortunate coincidence that the 530th anniversary of Fuzuli falls in the same year as our country hosts a significant global event like COP29. This jubilee year, we must ensure that writers and poets from abroad receive comprehensive information about Fuzuli. At the same time, let's share the news of our Karabakh victory and the realities of the 30-year occupation period."
The deputy minister stated that last month, a conference titled "Mohammed Fuzuli and Alishir Navai: Our Common Literary and Moral Values" was held during the Days of Azerbaijan Culture in Tashkent, and an anthology of the poet's works translated into Uzbek was presented. The great poet's legacy has also been promoted at international book fairs with special sections at the Azerbaijani stand. The 10th Baku International Book Fair, scheduled for October this year, will also honor Muhammad Fuzuli.
Following the speeches, the soloists of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Honored Artist Anar Mikayilov and Roza Zeynalova, performed a composition based on "Leyli and Majnun" by Mahammad Fuzuli.
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On July 19, the documentary film "Repression of the Word" (2022), produced with the support of the Ministry of Culture, was screened at the Shusha Hotel-Congress Center as part of the Vagif Poetry Days.
Rafig Hashimov is the director of the film, produced by the "Bulatfilm Production" company, while Selim Babullaoghlu is the screenwriter and Rufat Suleymanov is the cameraman.
The film pays tribute to 31 writers, poets, and other intellectuals who were victims of repression and tells the tragic life stories of some of them. It also looks back at the tragic and historical philosophy behind Stalin's repressions.
The film includes the opinions of the people's writer Anar, historian and researcher of work and life of Javid Hamid Jafarov, academician Rafael Huseynov, the director of the Museum of the Victims of Political Repression Mirabbas Mammadov, the doctor of philological sciences and professor Badirkhan Ahmadov, and the doctor of philosophy in philology and associate professor Firudin Gurbansoy on the wave of repression in the 1930s and the reactionary nature of communism.
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On July 19, the poetry festival ended with an artistic and musical performance named "Travel with Vagif," staged in front of Khurshidbanu Natevan's home.
The performance presented for the first time is dedicated to the Azerbaijani traveler, geographer, historian, ethnographer, philosopher, and poet Haji Zeynalabdin Shirvani.
Zeynalabdin Shirvani, born in 1780 in Shamakhi, moved to the city of Karbala with his family, where he received his first education. In 1796, he moved to Baghdad to complete his studies covering philosophy, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, and several languages. The travel books in Baghdad's libraries, the discussions among scholars who gathered from across the Eastern world, and the stories of visiting pilgrims revealed a new world to him. Since then, young Zeynalabdin aimed to see the world and share its wonders with his fellow countrymen, and decided to travel without hesitation...
The name of the outstanding scientist has gained wide fame not only in our homeland, but also far beyond its borders. H. Z. Shirvani's historical, philosophical, geographical, and biographical works have been published in countries such as China, India, the Republic of Korea, Iran, Türkiye, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Poland, France, England, and beyond, and have been highly appreciated by experts and scholars of these regions.
The stage performance in Shusha, presents the scientist’s life story and life credo to the spectators. The performance is intended to introduce our compatriot who has promoted Azerbaijani culture worldwide.
The author of the play, ordered by the Ministry of Culture, is Ilgar Fahmi, the Secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, and the production director is Honored Artist Loghman Karimov.
Participants in the performance included honored artists from the Shusha State Musical Drama, State Pantomime, and State Yugh Theater: Nazir Rustamov, Azad Shukurov, Bahruz Vaqifoghlu, Teymur Mammadov, and Gasim Naghy, Orkhan Abishov, Pustakhanim Zeynalova, Jala Novruz, Zahra Salayeva, Surahi Alimammadova, Nurlan Rustamov, Javad Nuriyev, Elnur Ismayilov, and Nihat Heybatov.
At the same time, People's Artist Gulyanag Mammadova, Honored Artist Nigar Shabanova, khanandas Huseyn Malikov, Nushaba Karimli, Azerbaijan State Song and Dance Ensemble and students of the Baku Choreography Academy took part in the performance.
The artistic and musical stage performance prepared with great professionalism was met with applause by the audience.
After the performance, photos were taken to commemorate the occasion.
With this event, the Vagif Poetry Days, held for the fourth time in liberated Shusha, our cultural capital, went down in history.
On January 14, 1982, with the participation of national leader Heydar Aliyev, the mausoleum of the great poet and statesman Molla Panah Vagif (1717-1797) and the House of Poetry were opened in Shusha. At this event, Heydar Aliyev supported the initiative of our literary figures in this field and ordered the launch of Vaqif Poetry Days. The first festival of literature and art was held in July 1982.
