Diplomats, poets, and poetry lovers gathered in Gambia’s capital, Banjul, to celebrate the International Poetry Night dedicated to peace, friendship and shared human values.
Organised by the Yunus Emre Institute, the Turkish cultural institute, the event featured participants from various countries reciting poems in their native languages.
The event drew inspration from Turkish poet Yunus Emre’s centuries-old call to humanity—"Come, let us be acquainted, let us make the task easy, let us love and be loved, the world shall be left to no one"
Those in attendance included ambassadors Fahri Türker Oba of Türkiye’s, Imma Roca Cortés of the European Union, Carmelina Ramírez Rodríguez of Cuba and Karl-Frédérick Paul, the United Nations Resident Coordinator.
Members of the Writers' Association of The Gambia, academics, students, and numerous guests were also in attendance.
Power of poetry
Adding cultural depth to the evening, prominent Gambian artist Mariama Cham performed hymns composed from Yunus Emre’s poems, receiving great acclaim from the audience.
Speaking at the event, Talip Erdoğan, the coordinator of Yunus Emre Institute Banjul, highlighted the power of poetry and music to unite people around common values.
"Today, guided by poetry and music—the universal heritage of humanity—we gather to strengthen our bonds of peace, friendship, and mutual understanding. As an institute, we bear the name of Yunus Emre, an icon of love and tolerance. Centuries ago, he offered humanity the ultimate remedy, saying: 'Come, let us be acquainted, let us make the task easy, let us love and be loved, the world shall be left to no one.'“
“Today, we are proud to echo this call for peace and acquaintance here in The Gambia, uniting the voices of different languages and cultures in a single hall," he said.
The event offered a platform to enhancing intercultural dialogue by bringing diverse cultures together through poetry.
While demonstrating the unifying power of poetry that transcends borders, the event also reinforced the bonds of friendship between Türkiye and The Gambia.
Yunus Emre Institute Banjul continues its efforts to build cultural bridges and strengthen friendly relations between Türkiye and The Gambia through Turkish language instruction, cultural events and arts programs.
