A medieval Anatolian poet and an Azerbaijani philanthropist provide the starting points for an evening exploring ideas, identity and cultural connections at Yunus Emre Institute London on Tuesday 13 October.
The free event, From Yunus Emre to Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, brings together scholars and cultural specialists to discuss Yunus Emre’s humanist legacy and the development of intellectual and enlightenment traditions in Azerbaijan and the wider Turkic world. A film screening follows the discussion.
Yunus Emre, who lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, is among Türkiye’s most cherished poets. A Sufi thinker whose verse explores divine love, compassion and tolerance, he helped establish Turkish as a literary language in Anatolia. His use of clear, accessible Turkish brought profound spiritual ideas to a broad audience, securing his enduring place in Turkish culture. The international cultural institute hosting the event bears his name.
Zeynalabdin Taghiyev rose from humble beginnings as a stonemason to become a wealthy Baku oil industrialist. He used his fortune to support education and public welfare, funding schools, students and improvements to Baku’s water supply. His philanthropy made him an influential figure in Azerbaijan’s social development.
Among his most significant achievements was funding a pioneering secular school for Muslim girls, which opened in Baku in 1901. Established despite resistance to girls’ education, the school helped nurture a generation of women who became teachers and contributed to Azerbaijan’s intellectual and public life.
The London speakers are Zohra Aliyeva of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences; Farida Seyidova of the Mevlana Centre in Baku; Farhad Jabbarov of Baku’s Z. Taghiyev Museum; and journalist and political analyst Neil Watson. Their presentations will be followed by a panel discussion.
Another towering figure in Azerbaijani culture is Uzeyir Hajibeyli (1885–1948), the composer behind the evening’s advertised screening. Regarded as the founder of modern Azerbaijani professional music and national opera, he was also a playwright, teacher and journalist.
Hajibeyli’s musical comedies brought the customs and social tensions of everyday Azerbaijani life to the stage, helping establish a new theatrical tradition. His work as a composer and educator played a defining role in shaping the country’s musical identity.
The organiser’s current programme lists a screening of Arshin Mal Alan, based on Hajibeyli’s celebrated Azerbaijani operetta. Written in 1913 and known in English as The Cloth Peddler, the romantic comedy follows a young merchant who disguises himself as a travelling cloth seller to find a woman he can love before marrying. Its humour challenges restrictive marriage customs, giving the evening another perspective on social change through culture.
Event details
Event: From Yunus Emre to Zeynalabdin Taghiyev | Talk & Screening
Date: Tuesday 13 October 2026
Time: Starts at 7pm; doors open at 6.45pm
Venue: Yunus Emre Institute London, 10 Maple Street, London W1T 5HA
Admission: Free event, but prior registration is required. Booking is available through Eventbrite.
