World Turkic Language Family Day was celebrated in Samsun through an international cultural program organized with the contributions of Samsun Metropolitan Municipality (SMM) and Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU). The event brought together participants from nine different countries belonging to the Turkic language family, introducing the shared language, culture, and history of the Turkic world to the people of Samsun.

Held at the SMM Multi-Purpose Hall, the program was attended by OMU Secretary General Prof. Dr. Erhan Burak Pancar, SMM Deputy Secretary General Necmi Çamaş, AK Party Samsun Provincial Chair Mehmet Köse, Director of the OMU Turkish Language Teaching Application and Research Center Prof. Dr. Serkan Şen, academics, administrative staff, and numerous guests.

During the program, cultural values from various parts of the Turkic world—particularly Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and South Turkistan—were introduced. The event, featuring folk dance performances, traditional music recitals, and regional delicacies, attracted strong interest from the audience.

Performances by artists from different regions offered a visual feast for attendees and once again highlighted the strength of cultural ties among the Turkic world. The event was regarded as an important initiative in terms of transmitting Turkic cultural heritage to future generations.

“Turkic identity is moving toward the freedom of being the speaker”

Speaking at the event, Prof. Dr. Serkan Şen, Director of the OMU Turkish Language Teaching Application and Research Center, emphasized the historical and cultural rise of the Turkic world, stating:

“Turkic identity is rapidly moving toward the freedom of being the one who speaks, rather than the one spoken about. Samsun is the city of beginnings. Celebrating this meaningful day here with students coming from all around the world is a great happiness. Even imagining such a scene half a century ago would have been difficult.”

“We will experience the outcomes of this unity”

SMM Deputy Secretary General Necmi Çamaş also underlined the shared future of the Turkic world in his remarks, saying:

“We are talking about a population of 300 million. No matter which country you go to, you will not feel like a stranger. We are very close to a period in which this unity will be vibrant and strong. We will all experience the outcomes of this together.”

“We stand against the call for loss of identity”

Speaking on behalf of the organizing committee, Emre Başoğlu drew attention to global policies of de-identification, stating:

“We live in an era that has become detached from identity, roots, and history. This is why we attach great importance to this program. We stand against the global system’s call for uprooting and loss of identity.”

“Longing has turned into reunion”

AK Party Samsun Provincial Chair Mehmet Köse, quoting Ziya Gökalp, highlighted the strengthening cultural bonds within the Turkic world and said:

“The scene we see here today is an indication that a great longing has turned into reunion.”