Afro-Turks or people of African descent in Turkey Beginning several centuries ago, a number of Africans, usually via Zanzibar and from places like Niger, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Kenya and Sudan. were brought to the Ottoman Empire by the Arab slave trade to plantations around Dalaman, Menderes and Gediz valleys, Manavgat, and Çukurova. Poor Black quarters of 19th century İzmir like Sabırtaşı, Dolapkuyu, Tamaşalık, İkiçeşmelik, and Ballıkuyu have mention in contemporary records. Some came from Crete following the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923. They settled on the Aegean coast, mainly around İzmir. Afro-Turks in Ayvalık declare that their ancestors from Crete spoke Greek when they came to Turkey and learned Turkish later. Afro-Turks living in İzmir had celebrated the traditional spring festival Dana Bayramı (Calf Festival) until the 1960s. Dana Bayramı is currently revived among the younger generation of Afro-Turks. Ayşe Sözer, a young Afro-Turk, says that Turkish society does not have a racist approach, but that sometimes the Afro-Turk community does experience “exaggerated interest” and social discrimination from society.
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 21:16:53 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015