“Remember me not with pity, but with thought, with love, with embrace. If there is theatre, I exist!”
Afife Jale
Istanbul Municipality has published a book about the 100 love stories of Istanbul all throughout the ages.
One of the most touching of these stories is between the first Muslim female actress in Turkey, Afife Jale and a prominent musician, Selahattin Pınar in the early 20th century.
The first Muslim actress Afife Jale
Selahattin Pınar
Selahattin Pınar, once dismissed by his father as a mere “singer,” would go on to become one of Turkey’s greatest composers. Afife Jale, rejected by her family for daring to act, became the first Muslim woman on the Turkish stage. In early 1900s, Muslim women were forbidden by law and custom to act on stage. Acting was seen as inappropriate and dishonorable for women, and only non-Muslim women such as Greek, Armenian, Jewish actresses were permitted to perform publicly. Afife Jale, however, insisted on becoming an actress. In 1919, she secretly joined the stage at the Apollon Theater in Kadıköy, Istanbul, performing in the play Yamalar. The authorities found out, and police raided theater where she acted. She faced harassment, arrests, and was banned from continuing her career.
Apollon Theater built in 1873 would change names and finally torn down to become Rexx Cinema Hall. Even Rexx Theater has been torn down. Today, there is a massive construction continuing in its place. And I hope it won’t become ‘another’ shopping mall. This is the only photo of the Apollo Theater we have.
Both left their homes wounded, both carried loneliness in their hearts — and one spring evening, they found each other at a concert in Kuşdili Meadow in Kadıköy.
Kuşdili Meadow in Kadıköy, early 20th century. Note that this meadow has been completely wiped out and nothing you see in this photo has remained.
They married in 1929, and for a while tried to live the youth they had been denied: playing games at home, tending gardens, sharing laughter. But happiness was fragile. Afife, unable to bear life away from the stage, turned to morphine. Selahattin discovered her addiction, and though heart broken, he tried to save her. His efforts became music — sorrowful, timeless songs. They divorced in 1935.
Eventually, Afife, fearing she had ruined him too, begged him to leave. He did. She died alone, unrecognized, in a hospital bed in 1941. Only four people attended her funeral.
Afife Jale and Selahattin Pınar
Selahattin lived on, but never healed. He poured his grief into masterpieces like “Nereden sevdim o zalim kadını (How I loved that merciless woman)” and “Hatıralar (memories).” In his final days, he too surrendered to despair, leaving behind nearly a hundred immortal works — and the story of a love that was beautiful, broken, and unforgettable.
Renowned Turkish singer Müzeyyen Senar sings one of the many songs Selahattin Pınar wrote for Afife Jale. The name of the song is ‘the wayward and sweet woman’.
Afife Jale’s life has recently been put on stage in Istanbul and talented artist Demet Evgar has performed Afife Jale beautifully!
Demet Evgar acting Afife Jale
Selahattin Pınar’s songs still live in the daily lives of most Istanbulites, echoing their broken love story. And Afife Jale is celebrated today as a symbol of women’s struggle for freedom in art and society in Turkey.
