A beautiful person who drew his strength from the child within: Metin Uca

I met him 30 years ago. I was a student at the Ankara University Faculty of Communication.

Metin Uca was blowing through Ankara journalism like a wind as a courageous reporter for the Anadolu Agency. 

Over the years, he would demonstrate the meticulousness, intelligence, and upright stance of an Ankara-based journalist to the Istanbul media. He had one more trait that set him apart: the mischievous, playful child within him. He always drew his strength from that child within. He had an endless, inexhaustible curiosity about life.

He was classless. Whether it was a Prime Minister, a farmer, or a mine worker, he treated everyone with the same kindness and spoke with the same elegant style. That is why he had friends from every circle and every profession. 

His friendship was also unique. Metin Uca was genuine. Fame and being a TV star never changed him; he was never defeated by his popularity. 

His childlike spirit, curiosity, and dreams always carried him forward. 

He was left unemployed, but he did not give up.

With his intelligence and talent, he carved out a new way to make a living for himself. He was no longer a journalist, but he was the rising star of sold-out stand-up shows. The doors of the mainstream media may have closed to him, but he won the hearts of the Turkish people with his one-man shows, which he wove stitch by stitch.

Metin was like a one-man army. While the number of lawsuits filed against him by political authorities increased over time, he never compromised his principled stance. His sharp tongue was a style he developed in his own way. He responded to those who threw stones at him with irony every single time. 

He was a true patriot. He built his new life by earning his bread through hard work.

They hurt him a lot, but he never hurt anyone throughout his life. He never let sadness dwell on his smiling face. On the contrary, he had a mischievous and energetic personality that filled every environment with joy with his presence. 

He was impatient; he wanted to put whatever came to his mind into action quickly. He had an insatiable curiosity and appetite for life. As his friends, we all learned a lot from him. 

Metin was one of the three musketeers of friendly gatherings. The masters of storytelling, the inseparable trio; Sunay (Akın), Nebil (Özgentürk), Metin (Uca)… The childlike soldier of the three musketeers left in an unexpected moment, leaving behind an indescribable pain. 

Our hearts ache. It is hard to believe. And using the past tense after Metin hurts my soul. 

Because he was a person of the “moment.” He chose to live the present, this moment, to the fullest. 

He was skilled at making even the most difficult tasks fun.

No matter what happened to him, he never gave up being cheerful. Metin Uca was a patriot who loved his country, a humble TV star, a courageous journalist, and a master of dark humor who challenged the spirit of the times with his courage! 

And for me, he was a beautiful person who drew his strength from the child within! 

Dear Metin;

Know that; the name you created with art, humor, friendship, and love will be carried from generation to generation.

Because legends are immortal.

We love you very much.