The foundation of the monument and museum of ‘Sarı Çizmeli Mehmet Ağa’ will be laid in a short period of time

The foundation of the monument and museum to be built next to the tomb of ‘Yellow-Booted Mehmet Aga’, actually a real figure known as a legend by everyone, will be laid in a short time. Osman Alpay, Vice President of the Yellow-Booted Mehmet Aga Culture and Solidarity Association, stated that the museum to be built in the village of Goçeri in Cyprus will reveal his unknown story with documents, saying, ‘We already have visitors coming from Turkey and European countries who are curious. In addition, we will introduce our village products to our visitors through a local market we will establish here in the future.’
The ‘Yellow-Booted Mehmet Aga Culture and Solidarity Association’, aiming to inform people that Mehmet Aga is not a legend but a real person, continues its efforts. The association, announced that it will have monuments, museums, and cultural structures built around the tomb commissioned by Barış Manço to ensure that the beloved folk hero Mehmet Aga is not forgotten. Vice President Osman Alpay of the association stated that the foundation of the monument and museum will be laid in a short time.
“We will build adobe stone houses” Osman Alpay, who stated that they tell the real story and history of their 500-year-old village to future generations, said, ‘We have other projects for the future. In this respect, our village will develop in terms of tourism and prosper. We have honey, jam, and halloumi cheese production in our village. We aim to promote these to people. We will build adobe stone houses and sell our local products there.’
“The British hanged Yellow-Booted Mehmet Aga in front of his house in Ortaköy” Alpay said, ‘There are still many people who think Mehmet Aga is a legend. We have gathered our documents. The British hanged Yellow-Booted Mehmet Aga in front of his house in Ortaköy because he took care of the prisoners of Gallipoli and hid them in the Ergenekon cave. His son was there too. He had instructed him, ‘I am being hanged, please take my body to Goçeri.’ His son brought him and buried him with his own hands. They also killed his cousin’s son and threw him into a well. The yellow boots on the body revealed that it was him. They also destroyed the cemeteries here, but we are currently protecting them.’
“We will exhibit objects belonging to Barış Manço” President Hüseyin Köroğlu stated that they established the association a year ago and said, ‘We applied for the construction of the monument, museum, and road construction works next to the tomb of Yellow-Booted Mehmet Aga. We will lay the foundation of the monument in a short time. We will exhibit objects belonging to Barış Manço in the museum. Yellow-Booted Mehmet Aga’s objects will also be included. There are many people in our village and surrounding villages who want to give us objects belonging to Yellow-Booted Mehmet Aga.’
“Our café is open” Köroğlu said, ‘We already have visitors from many countries in Turkey and Europe. Visitors are already saying that they are very pleased with it. We make sure to tell them the real story. We provide café service to people. Visitors can come and pray and sit in the café here. They can meet their needs. When the foundation of the monument is laid, we will work with the mayor to make this place perfect.’
A guesthouse will also be built. Deputy President Savaş Bozalanlar said, ‘This will be beneficial for our country, region, and village. Among the livelihoods here are halloumi cheese, dry agricultural products. After the museum is completed, we also aim to open a local market here. In this way, we will have the opportunity to introduce our village’s famous products to visitors. We will also build a guesthouse to pass on this legacy to future generations.’
Story Mehmet Aga, a real folk hero known for his love of helping those in need, donating land and houses to those getting married, and for his aid to the Ottoman Empire during the Gallipoli War, was imprisoned by the British for his contributions. In the 1970s, Barış Manço, who came to Cyprus for a concert, not only wrote songs about Yellow-Booted Mehmet Aga, whom he heard from the local people but also years later, came to the village of Goçeri, Mehmet Aga’s hometown, and had his tomb built with a donation.