Muzaffer İzgü, born on 29 October 1933 in Adana, is a Turkish writer and teacher. He holds an important place in Turkish literature, particularly for his works in children’s literature and humor. İzgü authored hundreds of works aimed at both adults and children. His father, Ahmet Bey, migrated from Dişidi village in Elazığ to Adana to work and supported his family through various jobs. His mother, Havva Hanım, was born in Damascus and moved to Adana from Antakya.

After completing his primary education at various schools in Adana, he attended Tepebağ Middle School and then graduated in 1952 from Diyarbakır Teacher Training College as a boarding student. He began his teaching career the same year, with his first posting in Silvan district of Diyarbakır. He served as a primary school teacher there until 1956, after which he was transferred to Aydın, where he continued teaching in various villages until 1968. During this period, he also completed the Buca Education Institute and became a middle school Turkish language teacher. In 1978, he retired by his own choice and settled in İzmir, continuing his life as a freelance writer.

He began his writing career in 1959 with articles published in Hüraydın, a local newspaper in Aydın. Later, he wrote columns and conducted interviews for newspapers such as Demokrat İzmir, Akşam, Milliyet, and Cumhuriyet. From 1962 onward, he contributed to the humor magazine Akbaba, continuing his contributions until the magazine ceased publication. He became especially known for his humorous short stories in Sunday supplements. His writings also appeared in magazines such as Milliyet Sanat, Dönemeç, Yansıma, and Çivi, as well as in newspapers like Yeni Asır.

Muzaffer İzgü published a total of 154 books, approximately 98 of which are children’s books. In his works, he addressed themes such as poverty, class injustice, child labor, family longing, bribery, ignorance, and educational pressure through the lens of black humor. He frequently incorporated proverbs, idioms, and folk expressions into his writing. He is regarded as one of the three major figures of Turkish humorous literature alongside Rıfat Ilgaz and Aziz Nesin.

In his children’s books, he centered values such as love for nature and animals, sharing, creativity, and hard work. He avoided supernatural elements and adopted a perspective that advocated social equality and opposed gender discrimination.

Muzaffer İzgü was also active in theater, writing numerous plays including İnsaniyettin, Karadüzen, Her Devrin İti, Utanmıyorum Üşüyorum, and Dandini Vatandaş Dandini. Over a hundred radio plays and sketches were broadcast by TRT radio stations. Several of his works, including Halo Dayı ve İki Öküz, Mahmut Mangal, Zıkkımın Kökü, and Üç Halka Yirmi Beş, were adapted for television and cinema. Zıkkımın Kökü won a total of 17 awards domestically and internationally. In 1980, legal proceedings were initiated against his books Donumdaki Para and Ekmek Parası, resulting in their ban. His 1990 play Yeniden Doğarız Ölümlerde was also banned.

Throughout his writing career, Muzaffer İzgü received numerous awards. These include the 1978 Turkish Language Association Short Story Award (Donumdaki Para), the 1980 Bulgaria Golden Hedgehog Award (Dayak Birincisi), the 1997 İzmir Grand Prize, the 2009 Adana Book Fair Honorary Guest title, and various children’s book awards.

Muzaffer İzgü was married to Günsel Hanım and had three children. He lost his wife in 2016. In August 2017, he was diagnosed with liver cancer caused by gallbladder complications and chose to return home, declining further treatment. He passed away on 26 August 2017 at the age of 84 in his home in the Karabağlar district of İzmir. After the funeral prayer held at Alsancak Hocazade Camii, he was buried beside his wife Günsel İzgü at Doğançay Cemetery.

Novels and Short Story Collections: Gecekondu, İlyas Efendi, Halo Dayı, Bando Takımı, Donumdaki Para, Deliye Her Gün Bayram, Zıkkımın Kökü, Ekmek Parası, İt Adası, Sıpa, Pembuye Reş, Çapulcu musun? Vay Vay!, Yıldızlar Gözaltında, Bıyık Süzgeci, Düşler Kulübü, Anayasa Hangi Anayasa?, Yeniden Doğarız Ölümlerde, Hıdır Baba.

Children’s Books: Ökkeş Balık Avında, Uçtu Uçtu Ali Uçtu, Bülbül Düdük, Çizmeli Osman, Yumurtadan Çıkan Öğretmen, Karlı Yollarda, Güldüren Uçurtma, Küçük Arı Büyük Ayı, Konuşan Kedi, Bulutlara Simit Satan Çocuk, Okula Giden Robot, Kuklacı Çocuklar, Uçan Eşek, Anneannem Gelin Oldu, Ökkeş Gökyüzünde, Ökkeş Sinema Yıldızı, Ökkeş Çevreci, Zıkkımın Kökü (Youth Version).

Theatrical Plays and Sketches: İnsaniyettin, Karadüzen, Reçetesi Peçete, Utanmıyorum Üşüyorum, Her Devrin İti, Dandini Vatandaş Dandini

(Over 100 radio sketches and plays were broadcast by TRT.)

Cinema and Television Adaptations: Zıkkımın Kökü, Üç Halka Yirmi Beş (The Teacher), İt Adası, Halo Dayı ve İki Öküz, İğde Güzeli, Dilber.