Antakya (Arabic: انطاكية‎, Anṭākyä from Syriac: ܐܢܛܝܘܟܝܐ, Anṭiokia; Greek: Ἀντιόχεια, Antiókheia or Antiócheia) is the seat of the Hatay Province in southern Turkey, near the border with Syria. The mayor is Lütfü Savaş.

Known as Antioch in ancient times, the city has historical significance for Christianity, as it was the place where the followers of Jesus Christ were called Christians for the first time. The city and its massive walls also played an important role during the Crusades.

Antioch has been occupied by humans since the Calcolithic era (6th millennium BC), as revealed by archeological excavations of the mound of Tell-Açana, among others.

Subsequent rulers of the area include King of Macedonia Alexander the Great who, after defeating the Persians in 333 BC, followed the Orontes south into Syria. The city of Antioch was founded in 300 BC, after the death of Alexander, by the Seleucid King Seleucus I Nicator. It had an important role as one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire and Byzantium, and was a key location of the early years of Christianity, the Antiochian Orthodox Church, the rise of Islam and the Crusades.

Mehmet Barış Manço (also spelled Boris Mancho in some European album releases), born Tosun Yusuf Mehmet Barış Manço, (January 2, 1943 - February 1, 1999) was a Turkish rock singer, composer, and television producer. The names Tosun and Yusuf were legally removed during his primary school years. He composed about 200 songs, some of which were translated into a variety of languages including English, Japanese, Greek, Italian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Persian, Urdu and Arabic. He remains one of the most popular public figures of Turkey.

Manço was born in Üsküdar, Istanbul, Turkey on January 2, 1943. His mother, Rikkat Uyanık, was a famous singer in early 1940s.^{[citation needed]} His older brother, who was born during World War II, was named Savaş^{[citation needed]} ("war" in Turkish) while he was named Barış ("peace" in Turkish) by his parents to celebrate the end of the war.^{[citation needed]} His fame greatly popularized the use of the name Barış in Turkey.^{[citation needed]} At birth, he was additionally named Tosun Yusuf after his deceased uncle Yusuf called Tosun (literally: Yusuf The Sturdy). However, this name was erased just before he attended the primary school.