Cultural reconciliation and music: Musical dialogues direction to reconciliation between Turkish and greek communities in Cyprus

The starting point behind this study was the question of whether music may be effective in ensuring an intercultural and international reconciliation. While answers to these questions were sought, the role of music in intercultural reconciliation and conflict was discussed first, through the examples of Israel-Palestine, German-Jew, Berlin Wall and Grup Munzur. At this stage it was observed that while music sometimes assists to the reconciliation of cultures, it sometimes also emerges as the problem itself. Due to the departure point of the study being musical activities displayed by Turkish and Greek societies in Cyprus towards reconciliation; music?s contribution to reconciliation in Cyprus, and the method of using the music to develop a common identity (being Cypriot) were discussed.To understand music?s contribution to the reconciliation between two societies; songs, entertainment methods, places, musical instrument use of two societies, in other words their self-expression methods and methods of expressing their cultures were examined. Their bi-communal organizations were also explored. Under the guiding light of all these data, it was witnessed that people in Cyprus established lots of musical dialogue addressed towards reconciliation between Turkish and Greek societies, and they developed a common musical language or expression.The most important proofs indicating that both societies use the music as an important tool to reconvene and to represent a common culture in the island are the changes towards reconciliation experienced in bi-communal organizations and taverns. Today, a stage where musicians from both societies get together in taverns and perform mixed programs through a mixed instrument use is reached. This stage and its configuration were also analyzed. Besides, the fact that society is involved in bi-communal organizations through a demand coming from the base and changing political understandings, before the opening of border check-points ensuring communication and passage between two societies, manifested the contributions of these organizations through non-island support.