Tribute museum to late cult singer ‘Müslüm Baba’ opens doors in Şanlıurfa

ŞANLIURFA – Anadolu Agency

The museum opened on Oct. 5 exhibits everything related with the greatly missed singer – from his cassettes and LPs to his instruments, handwritten texts and even clothes. AA photo

Late “arabesque” folk singer Müslüm Gürses achieved the status of a cult musician with masses of devoted fans. Now, a little more than seven months after his death, the life of the singer who was affectionately called “Müslüm Baba” – partly for the greatness of the love he engendered among his now orphaned fans and partly due to his manners – will become part of the annals of history, with a rare tribute: A new museum in his hometown of Şanlıurfa dedicated to his artistic career.

The “Müslüm Gürses Museum” was opened on Oct. 5 in Şanlıurfa with the attendance of his widow, Muhterem Nur, and Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Çelik, who represented the government.

The array of galleries, built in an old stone house, exhibit everything related with the greatly missed singer – from his cassettes and LPs to his instruments, handwritten texts and even clothes.

Nur, a former actress considered the musician’s muse, said it was very meaningful to open a museum in Şanlıurfa. “[Gürses] had plans to settle in Şanlıurfa before he died,” she said.

Gürses died at age 59 on March 1 after a long period of convalescence triggered by a heart and lung failure following bypass surgery. 

His life was one of musical prodigality and the intensity of his songs hypnotized generations of young people suffering from heartache.

Fans will now have a new sanctuary to entertain their admiration for “Müslüm Baba” and take some solace after his death, perhaps by intoning back his own lyrics, “With memories, I wrote you on my heart.”