Zülfü Livaneli is an eminent figure in Turkey, a songwriter and performer, an author and film director. His songs have reached iconic status, while his pacifism and social values have led him to assume political roles. His family, whose name originates in Georgia, have a complex and tragic story. “All the peoples living in the Ottoman state in Anatolia, the Balkans, and the Caucasus suffered greatly in the 20th century. Turks, Armenians, Kurds, Greeks and other ethnicities were massacred and persecuted,” he explains. “My grandparents could not escape this fate. That is why peace is indispensable for us. My life has been spent defending brotherhood, respect for human rights and the rule of law. I suffered trials, military prison, exile, bans on my work, threats on my life. But art…
