02.08.2025 11:30
Sezen Aksu fulfilled the last wishes of her close friend Pakize Suda, who passed away in 2022. Through the TEMA Foundation, she donated 5,000 saplings in Erzurum Taşağıl, creating a Memorial Forest in her name. With Aksu's contribution, the total number of saplings that have been planted has reached 50,000.
One of Turkey's beloved artists, Sezen Aksu, fulfilled the last wish of her close friend Pakize Suda, who was diagnosed with dementia and passed away at the age of 70 due to a brain embolism on December 21, 2022. Suda had expressed her wish during her lifetime, saying, "Sezen, please create a memorial forest in my name."
Aksu did not forget this request and, through the TEMA Foundation, planted 5,000 oak saplings in the Taşağıl area of Erzurum, creating the Pakize Suda Memorial Forest. The forest was established in collaboration with the TEMA Foundation and the General Directorate of Forestry.
As a volunteer of the TEMA Foundation, Sezen Aksu has previously established memorial forests to honor many valuable cultural and artistic figures. In 2008, she planted 4,000 saplings in Antalya Döşemealtı in memory of Şerif Yüzbaşıoğlu, Onno Tunç, and Uzay Heparı, and in 2013, she donated 5,000 saplings to the Gökköy area of Salihli, Manisa, from the concert proceeds she set aside.
50 THOUSAND SAPLINGS PLANTED
Sezen Aksu, who has maintained her dedication to art and nature for years, has led the establishment of memorial forests in various provinces of Turkey to honor the memories of many valuable individuals. In 2015, in memory of Aysel Gürel in Kepsut, Balıkesir; in 2018, in memory of Adile Naşit in Çal and Sundurlu, Denizli; in 2019, in memory of Meral Okay in Kızılcaterzi, Tekirdağ; in 2021, in memory of Attila Özdemiroğlu in Atmalı, Gaziantep; in 2022, in memory of Oğuz Aral in Osmancık, Kırklareli; in 2023, in memory of Yaşar Gaga in Celaliye, Kırklareli; and in 2024, in memory of Egemen Bostancı in Yeniyurt, Kilis, she ensured the planting of between 5,000 and 6,000 saplings for each. With this latest contribution, a total of 50,000 saplings have been planted in 10 separate Memorial Forests established with the support of Sezen Aksu.