On World Book Day: Tribute Paid to Writer Kemal Mahmutefendić in Zenica

(Patria) - The Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of Zenica-Doboj Canton (ZDK) Mirza Mušija laid flowers today at the grave of Kemal Mahmutefendić at the Prašnice City Cemetery in Zenica and paid tribute to this prominent Bosnian-Herzegovinian writer, who passed away in February 2022.

This act was symbolically organized on World Book and Copyright Day, which is celebrated every year on April 23rd with the aim of promoting reading, publishing, and the protection of intellectual property. This date was established by UNESCO in 1995, recognizing the importance of books as one of the most significant carriers of knowledge, culture, and education.

Kemal Mahmutefendić, an author who wrote poetry, novellas, children's novels, plays, travelogues, essays, aphorisms, and fables, left behind 50 bibliographic units. He is represented with four works in the regular curriculum for primary schools.

At the initiative of former assembly member Jasmin Duvnjak, the Cantonal Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport and the "Edhem Mulabdić" Primary School from Zenica, with which Mahmutefendić collaborated, organized a commemoration of this great figure of Bosnian-Herzegovinian literature.

A class dedicated to Mahmutefendić was also held, during which students recited his poems, read excerpts from his works, and performed a theatrical presentation from "The Novel about the Coin," Mahmutefendić's most famous work. His son Adi Mahmutefendić also attended the event and thanked them for preserving the memory of his father.



Minister Mušija thanked Jasmin Duvnjak for the initiative to rescue the giants of Bosnian-Herzegovinian culture from oblivion.

- We visited the grave of the late Kemal and reminded ourselves how important the cultivation of memory is. Memory is life, and oblivion is death. In a time burdened by complex history, we often forget our own values and the lessons we should draw from that history.

Writers are messengers of their time, and the greatest ones transcend their era and remain lasting reminders of the values we need to survive as human beings - said Minister Mušija.

The principal of "Edhem Mulabdić" Primary School, Almir Bašić, emphasized the great importance of carrying out activities that evoke memories of what is valuable and lasting, such as the works of Kemal Mahmutefendić.



Jasmin Duvnjak recounted how the prominent Bosnian-Herzegovinian writer Abdulah Sidran pointed out to him in April 2022 the need for society to recognize Kemal Mahmutefendić, emphasizing that he is one of the most significant poets in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was not valued to the extent he deserved.

- With this act, we are fulfilling Abdulah Sidran's legacy and paying tribute to a man who was unjustly neglected in our environment, but who has permanently indebted us with his work, efforts, and life - stated Duvnjak.