Aşık Mahzuni Şerif

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Aşık Mahzuni Şerif (b. 17 November 1940, Berçenek / Afşin / Kahramanmaraş / Turkey – d. 17 May 2002, Porz / Köln / Germany), Turkish folk musician, minstrel, composer, poet, and author. Mahzuni Şerif was born in Berçenek village at the beginning of 40's. He is from Barginekli Ağucan Turkmens and his ancestors from grandmother side are members of Hormekan Tribe and from Razey (Irazca Hatun)[link]. The word aşık preceding his name is a title used to indicate his position as a respected musician, but also indicates his affiliation with the Alevi variety of Shi'a Islam.

He became one of Turkey's best-known musical interpreters, and brought strong intellectual and social elements into Turkish folk music and folk poetry. He died on 17 May 2002 in Köln in Germany, four days after his arrival for medical care about his heart problems.

Chronology

1956: He finished primary school in Bercenek and continues in Kahramanmaraş / Elbistan Alembey village, where he learns to read and write in old Turkish language.

1957: He visited Mersin Astsubay school (military school).

1960: He started Ankara technique military school but was discarded due to undisciplinary actions.

1961 From this time forward he starts producing music cassettes and LPs.

His writings become more widely known.

1972: His house in Gaziantep was set^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]} in fire and his entire archive was burned.

1962-1988: He was attacked, jailed, tortured, accused and lost his teeth.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

More information on this period is not available.

1989-1991: Asik Mahzuni was chosen for general Chief of "Halk Ozanlar Dernegi" (a music organization).

1997: He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and he was examined in Ulm, Germany.

1998: He becomes proprietor of 58 cassettes and 8 books. In several international contries his music was covered in other languages.

2001: He was accused^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]} by the DGM (Turkey´s state protecting court) of one of his sayings[link]. However no penalty was attributed thereafter.

2001: In the late 2001 he has suffered from heart problems and a heart attack.

2002: He passed away in Köln while under medical supervision for 4 days.

Poems

Asking and Asking

Made my mind go foolish

By hitting it on the stones

I looked for my dear fellow

By asking and asking to all

Some light out, some go out

Some get up, some get down

The palaces turn into ruins

Enduring to all

Enter Mahzuni into the friend’s affection

Snow fell on the mountain of friends

My youth in my life’s period

Is wounded all

The Order of this Earth

The order of this earth is not smooth

I shall not spend it with false words

I may not execute myself

Because of my conscience

The tears drop into myself

How hard is the parch stone

I may not see the bird in the Erciyes Mountain

Because it’s blind-eyed

I have no strength besides

I planted crops but could not harvest them

The rulers decided on the order when I’m faultless

I cannot leave the friend, Mahzuni

source: http://www.mahzuniserif.com/sayfa/english.htm

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