Armenian Heritage and Memory Beyond the Borders Armenian Heritage and Memory Beyond the Borders | Page 18

Madam Anahit Diziryan
(1926-29 August 2003)
“Everybody remembers
me as the woman with
accordion. This is Madam
Anahit. I have been
playing accordion for
approximately 40 years
in Çiçek Pasajı. I also
sometimes work for the
hotels and weddings if
they recruit me. I was born in İstanbul. I was born in 1926 in Taksim
and am currently living in Tarlabaşı. We used to stay in Heybeliada
in the summer. There was a child named Yorgo. Yorgo played the
accordion well. I was impressed. I assume the date was 1943.
There was a person called Papa Yorgi in Yüksek Kaldırım, Karaköy,
İstanbul and Papa Yorgi used to sell the musical instruments. We
bought a second-hand white Hohner accordion. It costed us 170 TL.
I was very much excited. As soon as we bought, i went to St. Anton
Church and took a vow.” she played the accordion until she died at
the age of 77. She is remembered in not only Çiçek Pasajı which
was about to be demolished when she was alive but also a new
venue, Anahit Sahne.
Anahit Sahne (Anahit Stage): A place which has been just opened
in Taksim in 2018 is called as Anahit who was an Armenian musician
woman having built an eternal bond and memory with Taksim. Anahit
Sahne not only gathers especially women and queer people in
İstanbul and aims to become an art space beyond a pub or concert
hall but also carries a memory of Madam Anahit Diziryan in Taksim
where there has been gentrification, which causes the city and
neighbourhood’s memory and bond with people to fade. Anahit Sahne
which is located closed to Çiçek Pasajı that is known for meyhanes
(taverns) and Anahit’s playing accordion when she was alive.