“Mefkûre Yolcuları” Begins Its U.S. Tour in Cleveland
The Ümit Nağmeleri performance, themed *“Mefkûre Yolcuları” (Travelers of an Ideal)* this year, launched its U.S. tour in Cleveland, Ohio. After visiting six states and touching the lives of thousands of people last year, the ensemble returned to the stage with young performers from different countries and communities.
The evening opened with a light show and a recitation of the poem “Genç Adam” (“Young Man”). The atmosphere grew more vibrant as Afra and Zümra performed “Namın Duyulsun” with the choir. Host Kemal Gülen welcomed the audience and reflected on the ensemble’s activities over the past year, including community visits, shared Ramadan gatherings, and cultural celebrations that brought people together and helped build bridges across communities.
Young performers from Germany, Albania, Romania, Canada, and various U.S. states were introduced to the audience. Their participation reflected the program’s international character and its emphasis on bringing people together through music, theater, and shared values.
*Welcoming the Visiting Artists*
Harun Çekiç, General Coordinator of the Northern Ohio Intercultural Association (NOICA), welcomed the visiting students and artists to Cleveland. He expressed his pleasure at hosting young people from different countries and thanked everyone who contributed financially and through their time, effort, and support to make the event possible.
The program continued with a video presentation titled “Mirasımız” (“Our Heritage”), followed by an emotional performance of “Yâr-i Vefadar” by Xhoni Cesku. The audience was then taken back to the early years of the community’s journey, before schools and student residences had been established.
The theater performance “Eşrefpaşalılar” portrayed the coffeehouse conversations and challenges of those early years. The scene was accompanied by musical performances, including “Oh Be,” sung by Eric and Arseldi, and Arseldi’s solo performance of “Verin Benim Sevdiğimi.”
*Stories of Patience, Perseverance, and Loyalty*
One of the evening’s announced highlights was a new documentary about the intellectual life and biography of Fethullah Gülen. The program’s host announced that the documentary was scheduled for release on October 17 and would feature 35 local and international academics, journalists, and thinkers examining the story of how the Hizmet movement developed into a global movement.
Another segment, titled “Musibetler Çağı” (“An Age of Trials”), reflected on the tests faced by the prophets, from Prophet Adam to Prophet Joseph, emphasizing the idea that perseverance and faith can be strengthened through hardship. The segment was followed by the theater performance “Sabır” (“Patience”) and Esat’s recitation of the poem “Sabır ve Ümit” (“Patience and Hope”). Musical performances by Selma, as well as Ebubekir, Arseldi, and Ayhan, added further emotional depth to the evening.
In the segment titled “Sabit Kadem Olma” (“Remaining Steadfast”), a dramatic sketch addressed alleged injustices in Turkey. It portrayed a father and son sharing the same prison cell, creating a deeply moving moment for the audience. The host connected the scene to historical examples from the battles of Uhud, the Trench, and Hunayn, highlighting the importance of remaining steadfast and continuing forward through difficult circumstances.
The “Vefa” (“Loyalty”) segment explored loyalty as more than simply remembering someone. It emphasized standing beside people during difficult times and preserving bonds of friendship and solidarity. Ayhan and the choir performed “Zahit Bizi Taan Eyleme,” followed by Xhoni’s solo performance of “Sen Bak İşine.”
*Hope for a Better World*
The section devoted to hope opened with the message that despair leads to hardship while hope comes from the Most Merciful. It continued with “Boyacı” (“The Painter”), a theater performance telling the story of a teacher dismissed under Turkey’s emergency decree system and a doctor. The story brought a reflective and emotional dimension to the program.
The audience also enjoyed musical performances by Afra and Zümra, who sang “Sevdan Olmazsa,” and by Kevser, Afra, and Zümra, who performed “Hicaz Potpuri.”
At the conclusion of the evening, the organizers thanked the theater team and the mentors working behind the scenes. The audience also remembered the late Yakup Çetin, after whom the venue was named.
The event concluded on an uplifting note with the entire ensemble performing “Yeni Bir Dünya” (“A New World”). Audience members joined the performers onstage and sang along, bringing the evening to a joyful close.
The Cleveland performance marked the opening of the “Mefkûre Yolcuları” U.S. tour, bringing together young people from different backgrounds through music, theater, cultural expression, and shared ideals.
*NOICA extends its appreciation to the visiting performers, organizers, volunteers, and everyone whose support helped make this memorable evening possible.*
