Jirtdan in Oslo

Jirtdan in Oslo

There’s something instantly captivating about bedtime stories, they open a quiet doorway into imagination, where children drift between reality and magic. For many of us, these moments stay long after childhood, shaping how we see the world and connect with our roots.

Jirtdan in Oslo (Cırtdan Osloda) brings one such cherished story to life in a new and meaningful way. Inspired by the beloved Azerbaijani folk character Jirtdan, small in size but rich in courage and cleverness, this project reimagines his journey in the heart of Norway. Through the storytelling of Azerbaijani children’s author and comedian Bahram Bagirzadeh, Jirtdan travels beyond borders and arrives in Oslo, exploring its culture, landmarks, and hidden connections to Azerbaijan.

As Jirtdan wanders through the city, he steps into places tied to history and imagination, from the legacy of Thor Heyerdahl, whose journeys linked Norway to distant lands including Azerbaijan, to surprising cultural echoes that remind us how closely intertwined our stories can be.

This project is more than a children’s story, it is a bridge between Norway and Azerbaijan, between past and present, and between generations. With accompanying illustrations that bring Jirtdan’s Oslo adventure vividly to life, we invite readers of all ages to rediscover the magic of storytelling and the beauty of cultural connection.

Jirtdan in Oslo in collaboration with:

A book by Bahram Bagirzadeh

Preface by Shervin Najafpour

Entering the world of bedtime stories is like opening a small door into a magical world. The lights grow soft, a child snuggles under the duvet, and someone who loves them unconditionally opens a book. In that quiet moment, before sleep arrives, we are set on a wonderful adventure. The room slowly fills with beautiful colors, the sound of the animals, brave heroes, princesses and princes, giants, and faraway lands, and suddenly we enter a world of magic.

Born and raised in Norway, as a little girl, my favorite memories were when my father Atabey would come home after a long day at work and tuck me in, give me a goodnight kiss, hand me a warm cup of milk and start reading a bedtime story to me.

Some nights the stories came from his homeland, Azerbaijan, the Land of Eternal Fire. Suddenly I would enter a magical world filled with flying silk carpets, brave knights riding horses, a princess looking out over the Caspian Sea from the Maiden Tower, and beloved characters like Tiq-Tiq Khanim. Then there was the story of Jirtdan, the tiny boy who was small in size but big in courage and cleverness that he outsmarted a giant.

Now, as an adult, one of those childhood stories continues through the pen of the wonderful Azerbaijani children’s author and famous comedian Bahram Bagirzadeh, who has taken our beloved Jirtdan on adventures all around the world.

In this book, Jirtdan comes to Oslo, the city I grew up in. He explores the city, visits the famous Viking Ship Museum, and even discovers the “Baku” bus stop in Nærsnes. My Norwegian childhood hero, the great adventurer Thor Heyerdahl, who once searched for Odin, the God of the Vikings, in the village of Gobustan in Azerbaijan, has also become a part of this story.

But the most interesting fact that connects our two nations is Knut Hamsun, the Norwegian Nobel Prize–winning writer, who traveled to Baku in the late 1890s. He described Azerbaijan as a vibrant meeting place of cultures, full of energy, diversity, and the spirit of a rapidly changing world.

Now through Jirtdan in Oslo, we continue building cultural bridges between nations. That’s why this book holds a very special place in my heart, and I truly hope you all will enjoy it as much as I do.

Chairwoman of the cultural bridge building organization, CAN
Shervin Najafpour