On June 5, on the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vilmos Diószegi (1923–1972), the ethnologist–anthropologist, the world famous researcher of Shamanism, a memorial conference was held in the Museum of Ethnography in Budapest. The event was jointly organized by the Institute of Ethnography of the Research Center of Liberal Arts, the Museum of Ethnography, The International Turkic Academy and the Representation Office of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Budapest. Shahin Mustafayev, the President of the International Turkic Academy, as well as Ambassador János Hóvári, the executive head of the Representation Office of the OTS participated in the event and also made remarks.
During the one-day conference it was Lajos Kemecsi who first welcomed the guests. The Director General of the Museum of Ethnography highlighted the fact that the international conference recalls the character and personality of the great Hungarian researcher of Shamanism at the 100th anniversary of his birth. It is a major collection of artifacts, photographs and recordings that is dedicated in the Museum of Ethnography to the results of his research work. Director General Kemecsi recalled that Vilmos Diószegi was an internationally recognized researcher of Shamanism who in the 1950–1960s did research in South Siberia and the northern part of Mongolia four times. By the scholarly studying the elements of Shamanism in Siberia, the ethnologist–anthropologist intended to clarify the question of the origins of the ancient Hungarian religion.
In his opening remarks, János Hóvári reminded the audience of the fact that Vilmos Diószegi was a significant researcher not only for the Hungarian people but the universal Turkic world as well. His scientific volumes and publications are regarded as basic material not only by the Hungarian and international representatives of the generations of researchers of Shamanism following him, but by those as well who are interested in the relatives of the Hungarian people living in South Siberia and North Mongolia.
During the international conference lectures were delivered by the experts of the Museum of Ethnography, the Research Center of Liberal Arts, the University of Bern, the University of Nazarbayev in Astana, the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY), the Chinggis Khaan National Museum in Ulaanbaatar, the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Leiden University and the University of Helsinki.
