AKEL will hold a series of events to mark the 50 years since the death of poets Tefkros Anthias -Theodosis Pierides

Press Conference of the General Secretary of AKEL Andros Kyprianou

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 11 May 2018, Nicosia

This year marks 50 years since the death of Cypriot poets Tefkros Anthias and Theodosis Pierides. The two leading poets were members and militants of AKEL. Among other things, they were at the forefront of the battle for the establishment of the workers and progressive movement of Cyprus. Tefkros Anthias wrote, inter alia, the anthem of AKEL, the Youth Organisation AON-EDON and the class-based trade union federation of PEO.

The two prominent cultural creators published poetry collections, wrote literary and theatrical works, had material published of invaluable literary, cultural and political value and participated in international conferences in Cyprus and abroad by giving lectures and projecting culture, as well as the political problem of Cyprus.

The burning issue of peace was always among their priorities and marked all their work. Their wider social, political and cultural activity was very important, since they founded and managed schools, magazines, newspapers, theaters and cultural institutions.

Tefkros Anthias and Theodosis Pierides lived their era intensely. They participated directly and decisively in the national, social and labour struggles of the peoples of the countries they lived. In most cases, they played a leading role. Their work spoke to the soul of the common people, for it was taken out from their experience without ever degrading its standard. In November 1963, in the progressive cultural magazine “New Age”, Theodosis Pierides wrote the following: “I belong to the category of poets whom the people do not regard as a poor relative unworthy of art or worthy of only inferior art. But they regard it as the first source of all the beauty that has existed, there is and will be on the earth as the agency of all past history, all the present and future as the deep vein from which all the values ​​come together, the values ​​of art and poetry.”

Tefkros Anthias and Theodosis Pierides defended their homeland, peace, democracy, freedom and social justice with unparalleled vigor. Their work is recognized as a universal scope with many references and translations in international bibliography, but also as a work of great academic interest. This is because, as Tefkros Anthias wrote, “beauty, ethos and humanity lie at its core”.

For their services and work, the Central Committee of AKEL has established the annual “Tefkros Anthias – Theodosis Pierides” Cultural Award. This year’s award ceremony will be held on Monday 18 June at 19.30 p.m. at the “Pallas Theatre” in Nicosia.

As AKEL we have repeatedly published their poetry collections, and dozens of events have taken place to highlight the work of the two cultural creators. We are aiming to project this work even more during this anniversary year. But this is just one aspect of our activities.

The other aspect, perhaps even more important, is on the occasion of the work of our two leading creators is to also promote and provide an impetus to modern cultural creation; to address the young generation, giving the stimulus to get to know the work of our poets, but also on its part to show its own work. Sadly, Cypriot Literature is not among the priorities of the State. The public projection of the work of our writers is almost non-existent. The same is true as far as the issue of financial support is concerned.

We call on all those involved with the projection and promotion of the cultural values ​​of our country, to present the work and activity of these prominent artists of our country, providing incentives among other things for young Cypriot authors to show their own writing abilities too.

Within these frameworks, today we announce various public actions and initiatives that AKEL will organise, within the framework of the 50th anniversary of the death of our two cultural creators.