Farewell to master actor Genco Erkal...

Legendary theater artist Genco Erkal, who passed away at the age of 86, was laid to rest following a farewell ceremony.

A ceremony was held for Genco Erkal today at 14.00 at the Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage.

The funeral ceremony was attended by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Şişli Mayor Emrah Şahan, former Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Çetin, as well as figures such as Turgut Kazan, Filiz Kerestecioğlu, Fazıl Say, Nejat Yavaşoğulları, Bedri Baykam, Emre Kınay, and Şevket Çoruh.

During the ceremony, videos and photos from the theater plays Genco Erkal participated in, starting from his youth, were shared.

'HE NEVER ABANDONED HIS IDEOLOGY'

Speaking at the ceremony, artist Fazıl Say said:

"I learned a lot from him. I learned discipline, diligence. How to struggle alone. He never abandoned his ideology. He gave us all so much. Genco Erkal kept Nâzım Hikmet's poems alive during the banned periods by paying many prices. Our friendship, which is one of the most important milestones of my life, began about 25 years ago due to the composition of the Nazım Oratorio. We recorded most of our work with him. We are grateful. I would like to thank everyone who is here today by the side of our great artist." 

'I AM SPEAKING AT A FUNERAL FOR THE FIRST TIME'

Erkal's friend and lawyer Turgut Kazan gave the following speech:

"Actually, it is a Turkish classic for a lawyer to speak at the funeral of such a unique and beloved artist like Genco. His artist friends speak, his music is played, but you see, his music also talks a lot about prisons. We also see how such a Turkish classic is becoming heavier. A lawyer is taking the floor and speaking at an artist's funeral. 

I am speaking at a funeral for the first time. I must say from the perspective of a jurist and a friend that he was an incredible human rights defender. His actions were always like this."

'WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HAVING KNOWN HIM'

Following Kazan, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu spoke. Emphasizing that Genco Erkal always maintained his stance and could not be silenced, İmamoğlu commemorated Erkal by quoting Nâzım Hikmet.

"May we all have patience. We are here to send one of the most valuable names of our theater to eternity. We are grateful for having known him. It is a good thing that Genco Erkal passed through this country and this city, it is a good thing that we lived in the same era, watched his plays, and heard his powerful voice. He was the great plane tree of the art world. It was more accurate to say for him that 'he was a walnut tree in Gülhane Park'. We were aware of him and we will continue to be aware of him.

'HE DID NOT BEND, HE DID NOT BREAK, HE COULD NOT BE SILENCED...'

The toughest walnuts grew on those branches. He did not bend, he did not break, he did not remain silent, he could not be silenced. He always stood tall with the dignity of an artist. He was a hero who was always on the side of peace and the people with his plays and statements, and who said 'No to war' in the strongest tone. Genco Erkal will be one of our legends. At the same time, I respect his courage. I want to bid farewell to Genco Erkal by promising that we will continue to stand against injustice in the strongest tone from now on. May the working class have patience. May he rest in peace."

'SUCH PEOPLE DO NOT DIE'

Actress Zeliha Berksoy said the following:

"May the country have patience. I had a very close friendship with Genco. When I was in Berlin, he came and we visited all the theaters together. The Dostlar Theater occupies a very important place in my artistic life. I acted in nearly 20 plays. Genco was a unique actor of our theater. He strove to reflect all his essence to his audience.

Genco stood like a mountain... He represented Nâzım Hikmet for 50 years. I don't know if there are such peerless actors elsewhere, but... One day he told me, 'I feel like a soulmate with Nâzım'. I feel like one of my arms has been severed. But I am happy that I was his partner for years. Such people do not die"

The funeral ceremony held at the Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage has ended. Erkal's funeral will be buried in the Zincirlikuyu Cemetery following the ceremony at the Teşvikiye Mosque.

News Source: 12punto