Please join us for a talk by Zülfü Livaneli, world-renowned Turkish bestselling author, celebrated composer, film director, and political activist, in conversation with Ipek Cem Taha, Director of Columbia Global Centers | Istanbul, on "The Role of Literature in Social Transformation: Serenade for Nadia” on Wednesday, March 4 at 6 pm on Columbia University's campus.
The event is co-hosted by Columbia Global Centers | Istanbul and the Sakıp Sabancı Center for Turkish Studies, in collaboration with the Department of Art History and Archaeology.
Zülfü Livaneli is a best- selling Turkish author and poet who is considered one of the most significant and influential authors and intellectuals of his time. His books have won numerous literary awards, both in his home country and abroad. Although his books are viewed as highly literary, Livaneli is considered the top selling contemporary author of Turkey today. Livaneli is known for his novels that interweave diverse social and historical backgrounds, figures, and incidents, such as in ‘Bliss’, which won the Barnes & Noble's ‘Discovery of Great New Writers Award’ in 2006, and in his critically acclaimed ‘Serenade for Nadia’, ‘Leyla's House’, and ‘My Brother's Story’, which were all translated into 37 languages and won numerous Turkish and international literary awards, and were highly praised by prominent literary critics around the world. His novels have been turned into theatrical movies, stage plays, and operas. His works, and cultural and political activities and contributions to world peace were recognized by UNESCO in 1995 when he was appointed Goodwill Ambassador to UNESCO, a post he still holds today. He served a term in the Turkish Parliament as well as in the Council of Europe. For more information please click here.
Ipek Cem Taha is the Director of Columbia Global Centers | Istanbul since its inception in 2011. She holds a BA in Political Science from Amherst College and an MBA and Masters of International Affairs (MIA) from Columbia University. Ipek’s career has included investment banking at Deutsche Bank in New York, cofounding Turkey’s pioneer internet communications firm Netwise, authoring opinion columns in leading Turkish newspapers, creating and hosting ‘Global Leaders, a major television program with NTV networks. She has served on the International Advisory Board of Columbia University, Advisory Board of Allianz Turkey, Strategic Advisory Council for the Marseille Center for Mediterranean Integration (World Bank). For more information please click here.
