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Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
March 30 2013
Master of oud of Armenian descent announces return to his hometown, Diyarbak�±r
D�°YARBAKIR - Do��an News Agency
World-renowned master of oud Yervant Bostanc�±, a Diyarbak�±r native of
Armenian descent, announced March 30 that he has decided to return to
his hometown following separate calls by the culture minister and
Diyarbak�±r mayor for minorities that have emigrated to return to
Turkey.
Bostanc�±, who has been living in California for 21 years, said he was
set to move to Diyarbak�±r in June, being the first Armenian to respond
to the calls. "Diyarbak�±r Mayor Osman Baydemir and other fellow
countrymen wanted me to come back. I could not rip my heart from [my
birthplace]. People should die where they are born. I'm coming to
die," Bostanc�± said, adding that he did not find genuine happiness in
the United States.
A recent book on his life written by Diyarbak�±r author ��eyhmus Diken
paid tribute to the musician. He was born in the Hançepek neighborhood
of Diyarbak�±r, which was also known as the "Gavur (Infidel)
Neighborhood" of Diyarbak�±r and hosted most of the Armenians who had
survived the events of 1915. Diyarbak�±r was once home to a large
Armenian community years ago. The municipality has started major
projects to restore Armenian vestiges such as the Surp Giragos Church.
"People constantly tell me, 'You have work in Los Angeles, how you
will leave everything and return to Diyarbak�±r.' But why shouldn't we
live where we are happy? We Armenians brought our culture with us
everywhere we went. Why should we die in the city of others, feeling
homesick?" Bostanc�± said.
He told Hürriyet Daily News in an interview last year that he had
decided to leave Turkey after being insulted following a show in 1992.
"I finished the program, and a man came up and asked me why I was
singing in Armenian. I replied, "Because I am Armenian," and then he
started to swear and curse at me. I was terrified, and I decided to
leave Turkey that night," the musician explained.
Bostanc�± also said the Armenian diaspora in the United States reacted
strongly when he continued singing in Turkish and Kurdish. "I made
this struggle and never gave up," he said.
March/30/2013
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/master-of-oud-of-armenian-descent-announces-return-to-his-hometown-diyarbakir.aspx?pageID=238&nID=43949&NewsCatID=339
March 30 2013
Master of oud of Armenian descent announces return to his hometown, Diyarbak�±r
D�°YARBAKIR - Do��an News Agency
World-renowned master of oud Yervant Bostanc�±, a Diyarbak�±r native of
Armenian descent, announced March 30 that he has decided to return to
his hometown following separate calls by the culture minister and
Diyarbak�±r mayor for minorities that have emigrated to return to
Turkey.
Bostanc�±, who has been living in California for 21 years, said he was
set to move to Diyarbak�±r in June, being the first Armenian to respond
to the calls. "Diyarbak�±r Mayor Osman Baydemir and other fellow
countrymen wanted me to come back. I could not rip my heart from [my
birthplace]. People should die where they are born. I'm coming to
die," Bostanc�± said, adding that he did not find genuine happiness in
the United States.
A recent book on his life written by Diyarbak�±r author ��eyhmus Diken
paid tribute to the musician. He was born in the Hançepek neighborhood
of Diyarbak�±r, which was also known as the "Gavur (Infidel)
Neighborhood" of Diyarbak�±r and hosted most of the Armenians who had
survived the events of 1915. Diyarbak�±r was once home to a large
Armenian community years ago. The municipality has started major
projects to restore Armenian vestiges such as the Surp Giragos Church.
"People constantly tell me, 'You have work in Los Angeles, how you
will leave everything and return to Diyarbak�±r.' But why shouldn't we
live where we are happy? We Armenians brought our culture with us
everywhere we went. Why should we die in the city of others, feeling
homesick?" Bostanc�± said.
He told Hürriyet Daily News in an interview last year that he had
decided to leave Turkey after being insulted following a show in 1992.
"I finished the program, and a man came up and asked me why I was
singing in Armenian. I replied, "Because I am Armenian," and then he
started to swear and curse at me. I was terrified, and I decided to
leave Turkey that night," the musician explained.
Bostanc�± also said the Armenian diaspora in the United States reacted
strongly when he continued singing in Turkish and Kurdish. "I made
this struggle and never gave up," he said.
March/30/2013
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/master-of-oud-of-armenian-descent-announces-return-to-his-hometown-diyarbakir.aspx?pageID=238&nID=43949&NewsCatID=339