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The 28th International Culture and Art Festival of Dede Korkut was held in Bayburt. On July 22, the festival began with a visit to Dede Korkut's tomb in Masat village and continued with program on Masat Plateau, which included a wreath presentation at the Dede Korkut Monument, the opening of the Local Products Fair organized by women's associations, a folk dance show, and a visit to the Dede Korkut City Museum. During the three-day festival, cultural, sportive, artistic, and academic activities such as a conference on “Reading Today with Dede Korkut Stories,” a poetry recital, and the Javelin Show were organized.

Governor of Bayburt Mustafa Eldivan, Deputy Prof. Dr. Orhan Atesh, Mayor Mete Memiş, Bayburt University’s Rector Prof. Dr. Mutlu Türkmen, military officials, representatives of political parties, heads of institutions, district mayors, and many citizens attended the festival.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Governor Mustafa Eldivan emphasized that the messages given by Dede Korkut are not only relevant to the past but also contain universal themes. He said, “The International Culture and Art Festival of Dede Korkut, which has gained national and international recognition over the past 28 years through great effort, not only contributes to the cultural and artistic life of Bayburt but also builds a bridge between the homeland and foreign countries.”

Mayor of Bayburt Mete Memiş stated that they canceled the entertainment part of the festival due to both austerity measures and the events in Palestine. He also expressed his gratitude to the participants.

Rector of Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan delivered a speech at the 28th International Culture and Art Festival of Dede Korkut. In his address, Rector Ceylan shared his thoughts on Dede Korkut and his stories:

“Dede Korkut Stories, as the late M. Fuat Köprülü put it, ‘If you put all Turkish literature on one side of the scale and Dede Korkut on the other, Dede Korkut would still outweigh it.’ Indeed, Dede Korkut is one of the oldest and most important sources shedding light on Turkish language, culture, and civilization. Dede Korkut Stories not only reflect the social and cultural life of the Turkish nation but also convey important messages. Concepts such as loyalty, compassion, love, fidelity, hypocrisy, perseverance, determination, patience, honesty, and betrayal are explored in the stories, offering us lessons. In Oghuz society, the family is built on solid foundations. In the stories, love and respect between spouses, the value given to children, social solidarity, and moral values come to the fore. The events and characters in Dede Korkut's stories bring the past lifestyle and values of the Turkish nation to the present day. These stories teach us how our ancestors overcame difficulties, preserved their social values, and passed them on to future generations. In this context, Dede Korkut is not only a literary work but also a cultural heritage and a treasure of values.”

Rector Prof. Dr. Ceylan also visited Bayburt University and discussed academic cooperation with Bayburt University’s Rector, Prof. Dr. Mutlu Türkmen.

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