Etibar Eyub has become a notable voice in the cultural and intellectual landscape of the post-Soviet region, known for his ability to weave together the philosophical heritage of the East with the challenges of the digital age. More than an author of books and essays, he is a thinker who seeks to foster dialogue about the future, memory, and the individual’s responsibility toward history. His path illustrates how personal tragedy and inner resilience can evolve into a profound creative legacy.
Early Life
Family and Environment
Etibar Eyub was born in the spring of 1986 in Baku, into an intellectual family where the humanities were valued deeply.
- Father: Eyub Gasanov, Doctor of Philosophy, specialist in the history of Eastern philosophy, professor at Baku State University.
- Mother: Amina Alieva-Gasanova, literature teacher and founder of a school literary club.
Their home resembled a library, filled with books on philosophy, poetry, and history. This environment shaped his early fascination with reading and ideas.
First Interests
- By age 7, Etibar was reading fluently in both Russian and Azerbaijani.
- At 10, he began keeping personal journals and writing short stories.
- He joined the school theatre club and wrote a play based on the Epic of Gilgamesh.
A Turning Point
At the age of 14, Etibar lost his father to heart disease. This tragedy pushed him toward a deeper engagement with literature. Writing became a way to preserve a dialogue with his father and continue exploring the ideas they shared.
Education and Intellectual Formation
University in Baku
In 2003, he entered the Faculty of Journalism at Baku State University. He contributed essays to the student magazine, often addressing themes of social memory and literature.
Studies in Europe
In 2007, Etibar received a scholarship and continued his education at the University of Vienna. There he studied the history of ideas and media communication, encountering the works of Habermas, Benjamin, and Arendt. Europe expanded his intellectual horizons and shaped his view of the writer as a mediator between cultures.
Early Publications
During this period, he began contributing to international journals, writing about the post-Soviet experience, cultural identity, and the role of technology in preserving historical memory.
Literary Career
First Book
In 2012, he published his first essay collection, “Voices of Silence,” dedicated to cultural heritage and the preservation of minority languages in the era of globalization. The book received positive reviews in Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Journalism and Public Commentary
Between 2016 and 2019, Etibar collaborated with The Calvert Journal and OpenDemocracy, writing about East–West cultural dialogue, post-Soviet identity, and the impact of media on historical perception.
Debut Novel: “Networks of Oblivion”
In 2021, he released his first novel, focused on the fragility of memory in the digital era. The book sparked discussion at literary festivals in Baku, Tbilisi, Berlin, and Warsaw.
Other Works
Alongside Voices of Silence and Networks of Oblivion, he authored:
- “Labyrinths of Identity” (2014) — essays on the post-Soviet space and cultural intersections.
- “Letters to the Future” (2017) — dialogic reflections on generational memory and responsibility.
- “Mirrors of Time” (2019) — an exploration of how media constructs illusions of the past.
- “City and Shadows” (2023) — a novel about Baku where personal stories intertwine with urban history.
His books have been translated into English, Turkish, and German, allowing him to reach readers far beyond his home region.
Themes and Style
Major Themes
- The digital era — how technology and social media reshape human perception.
- Cultural identity — the preservation of traditions amid globalization.
- Ethics and society — philosophical reflections on freedom, truth, and justice.
Stylistic Features
Etibar’s writing blends philosophical essayism with artistic imagery. His style might be called “publicistic modernism,” combining reflective thought, documentary detail, and metaphor.
He often says:
“A writer today is not just a storyteller. He must be a bridge between the past and the future, translating society’s anxieties into the language of ideas.”
Family
Etibar is married to Leyla Eyub (née Gasanova), an art historian specializing in contemporary Caucasian art. Their relationship is rooted in a shared appreciation of culture and intellectual curiosity.
They have two children:
- Ali (born 2014), already showing interest in literature and chess.
- Nermin (born 2018), who loves music and drawing.
Etibar often notes that his children inspire him to write about the future and the continuity of generations.
Social and Cultural Initiatives
Etibar is actively involved in educational and cultural projects, including:
- “Reading for All” — a program promoting books among schoolchildren in rural regions of Azerbaijan.
- “Voices of Memory” — a project preserving oral histories of elderly people reflecting on life in the 20th century.
- The Baku International Festival of Literature and Philosophy — which he co-organizes, inviting writers and researchers from various countries.
Etibar Eyub also supports charitable initiatives to build school libraries and offer free lectures for students.
Personal Interests
Beyond literature, he has a lifelong passion for chess, a love inherited from his father. He sees the game as a school of strategic and philosophical thinking.
Etibar Eyub also practices running and yoga, which help him maintain focus and inner balance. He enjoys swimming in the Caspian Sea and took up cycling during his years in Europe.
Today and Future Projects
Etibar Eyub divides his time between Baku and Berlin. He teaches cultural journalism, speaks at international conferences, and runs a bilingual blog in English and Azerbaijani. His forthcoming book explores the role of artificial intelligence in literature and the changing concept of authorship in the digital age.
He remains committed to his life’s core mission: to serve as a mediator between words, cultures, and generations.