Voices of South Azerbaijan: The 6th Round of the "Anamın Yaylığı" Literary Competition to Be Held

The 6th Round of the "Anamın Yaylığı" Literary Competition to Be Held

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, June 25, 2013

My Mother's Shawl (Anamın Yaylığı)

The "Yaylıq" publishing house, which publishes books in both Turkish and Persian in Ardabil, South Azerbaijan, has announced the 6th round of its poetry and short story competition, My Mother's Shawl (Anamın Yaylığı).

According to the information published on the Yaylıq Publishing website, writers and poets wishing to participate in the competition must submit an unpublished poem or short story in Turkish. The submissions should be sent by email to the Yaylık publishing house by August 9. The names of the winners will be announced on August 31.

The "Anamın Yaylığı" competition is held approximately every six months as an independent festival. Participants have come from not only Azerbaijan's provinces but also from other regions of Iran, as well as from the Republic of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

"During the first five rounds of the competition, a total of 418 people participated with their poems and short stories," the publishing house’s website states.

Link to the original text in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
“Anamın Yaylığı” ədəbi musabiqəsinin 6-cı turu keçiriləcək

The Voices of Azerbaijan is dedicated to exploring and amplifying the experiences of marginalized Turkish communities in South Azerbaijan and broader Iran. We examine the intersections of ethnicity, language, power, and marginalization, offering a platform for these communities to share their voices and engage in critical discussions. Our mission is to raise awareness, advocate for social justice, and contribute to both academic and public discourse through diverse perspectives.

We approach ethnicity, language, and politics in their full complexity, viewing linguistic and ethnic communities as social and political actors, language and ethnicity as subjects of politics, and examining their social and political consequences for communities.

Our focus encompasses key issues related to language, education, and society, investigating how language policies and educational practices affect the status of ethnic minorities, particularly Turkish-speaking populations. We aim to reveal the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion in language and education, illustrating how these factors shape these communities' social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental realities.

Through this blog, we aim to provide valuable insights for community members in Azerbaijan and Iran, as well as for those in the diaspora. Our platform serves journalists, writers, academics, and students seeking to understand the social, cultural, economic, and political positions of Iran’s ethnic and linguistic minoritized communities. We critically examine power relations and the marginalization these groups face, focusing on topics neglected by mainstream media and academic research in Iran.

We are committed to promoting dialogue on diversity, inclusion, and justice. Our vision is to contribute to a society where the challenges of all communities are recognized, the socio-historical dynamics of power and privilege are acknowledged, and inclusive, discrimination-free discourses and policies are both envisioned and implemented.

Published articles and interviews on this platform do not imply endorsement by Voices of Azerbaijan. They represent the views and opinions of the respective authors.

Contact Voices of Azerbaijan for inquiries and collaborations: voicesazerbaijan@gmail.com