Zülfü Livaneli is a highly influential Turkish musician, author, poet, and politician, renowned for his multifaceted career and outspoken political views. Following imprisonment in 1971 for his political beliefs, he was exiled in 1972, living abroad for over a decade and collaborating with international figures like Elia Kazan and James Baldwin before returning to Turkey in 1984.
A prolific composer, Livaneli has penned over three hundred songs, a rhapsody, and a ballet, with his music, including the popular Nazim Türküsü album, achieving significant chart success and international acclaim. He has collaborated with artists such as Joan Baez and Mikis Theodorakis, and even performed with Bono of U2 in 2010. For his cultural works and contributions to world peace, UNESCO appointed him a Goodwill Ambassador in 1995, a role he later resigned from in 2016 to protest government actions in Diyarbakir. Beyond his artistic endeavors, Livaneli has also served in Turkey's Grand National Assembly and the Council of Europe, embodying a lifelong commitment to both art and political activism.