Feted While Imprisoned: Goethe Medal Honors Turkish Cultural Figures
Awarding Goethe Medal to a Turkish Cultural Advocate Behind Bars - artistic honors granted to detained Turkish advocates for cultural development
Let's get to the nitty-gritty, shall we? Osman Kavala, currently locked up in Turkey, is about to be awarded the prestigious Goethe Medal from the Federal Republic of Germany. Despite his incarceration since 2017, the Goethe-Institute believes he's still making waves, contributing to the peace and reconciliation effort in the local region.
Three noteworthy characters are set to receive the official Goethe Medal: Kavala, Chinese linguist Li Yuan, and Belgian author David Van Reybrouck. The awards ceremony will unfold on August 28, a grand event taking place in Weimar.
“Democracy is taking a beating in this new world of cruelty, where democratic values are constantly under the gun,” remarks Gesche Joost, president of the Goethe-Institute resting her hat in Berlin. Thomas Oberender, chair of the awarding commission, calls the laureates “quiet revolutionaries.”
Kavala's human rights crusade
Remember Osman Kavala? The chap founded Anadolu Kultur, an impressive organization based in Istanbul, way back in 2002. Its mission? Strengthening human rights, arts, and culture. Kavala's been behind bars since 2017. His trial in 2022 resulted in a life sentence for supposedly attempting a coup in connection with the 2013 Gezi protests. The conviction's met with international backlash, with many viewing it as politically motivated.
Li Yuan in China
Chinese linguist Li Yuan's commitment to spreading the German language in China impressed the selection committee. Her influence on the curriculum and teaching practice at Chinese schools and universities has been significant.
Van Reybrouck's Stories of People
David Van Reybrouck? The Belgian author? He's been getting attention for his books about South Africa, the Congo, or Indonesia. His works shine a light on perspectives that often go unnoticed in the Western-driven historical narrative.
The Oral History Approach
The Goethe-Institute is smitten with Van Reybrouck's unique oral history method. For his work "Revolusi - Indonesia and the Birth of the Modern World," he visited seniors' homes, remote villages, and Nepalese mountains to hear people's stories firsthand.
A Moral Birthday Celebration
The Goethe Medal turns 70 this year, debuting publicly in Weimar for the first time. The traditional date for the award is August 28, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's birthday (1749-1832). This year's committee included well-known cultural heavyweights like dramaturg Matthias Lilienthal. Past recipients have included conductor Daniel Barenboim and British author Ian McEwan.
[1] Goethe-Institut, "Goethe-Medal for Osman Kavala," (2022) goethe.de/en/web/kultur/content-kultur/kultur-schaffende/kulturpreise/en_EN/medals/goethe-medal-2022-osman-kavala.html[3] Amnesty International, "Turkey: Continued Detention of Osman Kavala Unlawful and Inhumane," (2020) amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/10/turkey-continued-detention-of-osman-kavala-unlawful-and-inhumane/[4] US Department of State, "2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – Turkey," (2021) state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices-turkey/[5] International Crisis Group, "Turkey’s Political Detainees: The Meaning of Reform," (2021) crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/turkey/analysis/turkeys-political-detainees-meaning-reform/
- The Goethe Medal, established in 1951, will celebrate its 70th anniversary on August 28, honoring Osman Kavala, Li Yuan, and David Van Reybrouck, each recipient being a key figure in their respective fields.
- While incarcerated in Turkey since 2017, Osman Kavala's contributions to human rights, arts, and culture have not gone unnoticed, as he is set to receive the prestigious Goethe Medal from the Federal Republic of Germany.
- Chinese linguist Li Yuan's influence on the German language in China and her impact on the curriculum and teaching practice at Chinese schools and universities impressed the selection committee, earning her a Goethe Medal.
- The Goethe-Institute recognizes Belgian author David Van Reybrouck for his unique approach to oral history, as he travels to remote locations to collect stories of people from various backgrounds, shedding light on perspectives often overlooked in popular narratives.
