Kent State University hosted a celebration on October 2 to honor the 300th anniversary of Turkmen poet and philosopher Magtymguly Fragi. The event highlighted Turkmen culture and featured performances that engaged students and the local community. The Wick Poetry Center and the Global Education Department helped organize the event.
Among the attendees were university President Todd Diacon, Iverson Long, the U.S. State Department’s desk officer for Turkmenistan, Meret Orazov, the Turkmen ambassador to the U.S., and Azat Atayev, the Deputy Minister of Education of Turkmenistan.
Maya Tuylieva, founder and director of the Kansas City Music Academy, performed on the piano. She expressed her enthusiasm for the event, stating, “I’m very excited to be a part of this event because I feel very passionately as a musician that Turkmen music has a lot to offer, and not many people know anything about Turkmen music. It was a mission in my life to make sure to bring Turkmen music to my audiences.”
David Hassler, executive director of the Wick Poetry Center, delivered a speech honoring Fragi’s contributions to poetry. He emphasized poetry’s role in uniting people across cultures, saying, “We believe in the transformative capacity of poetry to bring people together across the cultural borders and barriers of language to give voice to our shared humanity.”
Hassler introduced Orazov, who outlined the goals of the Turkmen delegation at the event. “We are here for two main reasons. First, to schedule a long-term partnership with Kent State University. Second, we are here to mourn our great poet Magtymguly Fragi,” Orazov said.
Marcello Fantoni, vice president for global education at Kent State, noted the significance of the occasion. “Just a couple of hours ago, His Excellency reminded us that Kent State University signed an agreement with the Turkmenistan delegation for future collaboration. This is the beginning of future work together.”
Kent State students Sergio Roper, Elaina Letso, and Victoria Troche read selections from Fragi’s poetry. The event concluded with a vibrant performance by Turkmen students, showcasing cultural songs, dances, and plays.
Related Topics