On the 17^th of March the International Scientific Symposium on the theme “National and spiritual values in ashiq art” began in the Central Scientific Library of ANAS in connection with the 100^th anniversary of Mikayil Azafli. The event was co-organized by the Institute of Folklore of ANAS, Kars Qafqaz University State Conservatory, Ankara University of Music and Fine Arts Ashiq Tradition Application and Research Center, Tovuz region Charitable Society and World Garapapag Turks Foundation.

Firstly, the participants of the event visited the monument to the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev. The symposium was opened by academician Isa Habibbayli, President of ANAS. He spoke about the life and activity of the mighty master of words Mikayil Azafli and his invaluable services in the recognition and development of the saz art of Azerbaijan. He mentioned that the event held in the “Year of Constitution and sovereignty” was of great importance in terms of re-study of Mikayil Azafli’s art and deeper study of his heritage in the conditions of complete sovereignty of Azerbaijan, as well as in the period of independence in general. At the end of his speech, the head of ANAS mentioned the relevance of the event in terms of highlighting Mikayil Azafli’s art once again, re-evaluating ashiq’s poetry against the background of his work and wished success to the work of the symposium.

Then, the reports by Gazanfar Pashayev, Professor of the Institute of Literature named after Nizami Ganjavi of ANAS, Ali Kafkasyali, Professor of Erzincan Binali Yildirim University and Ashiq Ozan Shiar Agdasha from Germany were listened.

In the reports talked about the importance of Mikayil Azafli’s activity for Azerbaijani culture and his contribution to ashiq art. It was noted that Mikayil Azafli wrote and created with great enthusiasm, developed ashiq art, became a master ashiq, who became a classicist during his lifetime. He was distinguished not only by his excellent knowledge of ashiq art, but also by his poetic nature.

Then Director of the Institute of Folklore PhD in Philology, Associate Professor Hikmat Guliyev made a speech. Looking through Mikayil Azafli’s life and activity, one of the prominent figures of the Azerbaijani ashiq art of the 20^th century, he mentioned that the master artist made a great contribution to the spread, love of our folklore, musical culture, to the purity and clearness of our language.

Associate Professor Hikmat Guliyev noted the importance of the international scientific symposium in terms of bringing Mikayil Azafli's creativity back to the agenda in the context of modern opportunities, reaching new generations, as well as in-depth study on the basis of scientific approaches and views.

The international scientific symposium continued its work on 8 Section meetings.

At the end of the event the concert program dedicated to Ashiq Mikayil Azafli’s creativity was presented.

 In addition to Azerbaijan, more than 50 scientists and researchers from Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Germany and other countries attended the symposium.