Afro-Turks
Encyclopedia
Afro-Turks, African Turks, or Turkish Africans are people of African descent
in Turkey
. "Afro-Turk" is a neologism; they have been colloquially named as Arap (Arab) or zenci in Turkish
, and are now also referred to as Afrika kökenli Türkler (Turks with African roots).
and from places like Niger
, Saudi Arabia
, Libya
, Kenya
and Sudan
. came to the Ottoman Empire
settled by the Dalaman
, Menderes and Gediz
valleys, Manavgat
, and Çukurova
. African 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.
Ulcinj
in Montenegro
had its own black community – descendent of the Ottoman slave trade
that had flourished here. As a consequence of the slave trade and privateer
activity, a considerable number of Ulcinj inhabitants until 1878 were black. The Ottoman Army
counted thousands of Black African soldiers in its ranks. The army sent to Balkans
during the Austro-Turkish War of 1716–18 included 24,000 men from Africa.
, especially İzmir
, Aydın
, and Muğla
. At the time of Barack Obama
's inauguration, a group of Afro-Turks from the districts Ortaca
, Dalaman, and Köyceğiz
gathered in Ortaca for celebration. There are also people of African ancestry living in some villages and municipalities of Antalya
and Adana
provinces. Some of the descendants of African settlers remain, mixed with the rest of the population in these areas, and many migrated to larger cities. These factors make it difficult to guess the number of Turks of African ancestry.
Mustafa Olpak
, a writer and a prominent Afro-Turk who is the founder of the first officially recognised organisation of Afro-Turks, claims that 2,000,000 people of African ancestry live on the littoral between Antalya
and İstanbul
. Olpak gives a number of around 3,000,000 people for the whole of Turkey. Turkish daily Sabah
has an estimate of approximately 800,000 "Black citizens."
Sports
Literature
Politics
Military
, 25 June 2008
African people
African people refers to natives, inhabitants, or citizen of Africa and to people of African descent.-Etymology:Many etymological hypotheses that have been postulated for the ancient name "Africa":...
in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. "Afro-Turk" is a neologism; they have been colloquially named as Arap (Arab) or zenci in Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
, and are now also referred to as Afrika kökenli Türkler (Turks with African roots).
History
Beginning several centuries ago, a number of Africans, usually via ZanzibarZanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
and from places like Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. came to the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
settled by the Dalaman
Dalaman
Dalaman is a district, as well as the central town of that district, situated on the southwestern coast of Turkey, in the Muğla Province.Dalaman Stream forms much of the western border of the district, where its neighbors are Köyceğiz and Ortaca districts...
, Menderes and Gediz
Gediz
Gediz may refer to:* Gediz, Kütahya, a district of the Kütahya Province of Turkey* Gediz River, a river in the Aegean region of Turkey...
valleys, Manavgat
Manavgat
Manavgat is a town and district of the Antalya Province in Turkey, from the city of Antalya. The Manavgat River has a waterfall near the town.-Geography:...
, and Çukurova
Çukurova
Çukurova , historically known as Cilicia, is a geographic, economic and cultural region in south-central Turkey, covering the provinces of Mersin, Adana, Osmaniye and Hatay...
. African quarters of 19th century İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
like Sabırtaşı, Dolapkuyu, Tamaşalık, İkiçeşmelik, and Ballıkuyu have mention in contemporary records.
Some came from Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
following the population exchange between Greece and Turkey
Population exchange between Greece and Turkey
The 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey was based upon religious identity, and involved the Greek Orthodox citizens of Turkey and the Muslim citizens of Greece...
in 1923. They settled on the Aegean
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
coast, mainly around İzmir. Afro-Turks in Ayvalık
Ayvalik
Ayvalık is a seaside town on the northwestern Aegean coast of Turkey. It is a district of the Balıkesir Province.It was alternatively called by the town's formerly indigenous Greek population, although the use of the name Ayvalık was widespread for centuries among both the Turks and the Greeks...
declare that their ancestors from Crete spoke Greek
Cretan Greek
Cretan Greek is a dialect of the Greek language, spoken by more than half a million people in Crete and many thousands in the diaspora....
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
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. Dana Bayramı is currently revived among the younger generation of Afro-Turks.
Ulcinj
Ulcinj
Ulcinj is a coastal resort town and municipality in Montenegro. The town of Ulcinj has a population of 10,828 of which the majority are Albanians...
in Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
had its own black community – descendent of the Ottoman slave trade
Slavery (Ottoman Empire)
Slavery was an important part of Ottoman society until the Ottoman Empire extinguished slavery of Caucasians in the early 19th century. The practice carried over into Ottoman reign...
that had flourished here. As a consequence of the slave trade and privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
activity, a considerable number of Ulcinj inhabitants until 1878 were black. The Ottoman Army
Military of the Ottoman Empire
The history of military of the Ottoman Empire can be divided in five main periods. The foundation era covers the years between 1300 and 1453 , the classical period covers the years between 1451 and 1606 , the reformation period covers the years between 1606 and 1826 ,...
counted thousands of Black African soldiers in its ranks. The army sent to Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
during the Austro-Turkish War of 1716–18 included 24,000 men from Africa.
Today
Areas with significant populations are in the Aegean RegionAegean Region
Aegean Region , is one of the 7 census-defined regions of Turkey, and in Western Asia.It is located in the west part of the country: bounded by Aegean Sea on the west; Marmara Region on the north;...
, especially İzmir
Izmir Province
İzmir Province is a province of Turkey in western Anatolia on the Aegean coast, whose capital is the city of İzmir. On the west it is surrounded by the Aegean sea, and it encloses the Gulf of İzmir. Its area is 11,973 km.2, population 3.948.848 . The population was 3,370,866 in 2000...
, Aydın
Aydin Province
Aydın Province is a province of southwestern Turkey, located in the Aegean Region. The provincial capital is the city of Aydın which has a population of approx. 150,000 . Other towns in the province include the summer seaside resorts of Didim and Kuşadası.-History:Aydın was founded by the ancient...
, and Muğla
Mugla Province
Muğla Province is a province of Turkey, at the country's south-western corner, on the Aegean Sea. Its seat is Muğla, about inland, while some of Turkey's largest holiday resorts, such as Bodrum, Ölüdeniz, Marmaris and Fethiye, are on the coast in Muğla....
. At the time of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's inauguration, a group of Afro-Turks from the districts Ortaca
Ortaca
Ortaca is a town and district of Muğla Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. Formerly a township depending Köyceğiz administratively, it was made into a separate district in 1987. Apart from Ortaca district center, there is one depending township with own municipality, namely Dalyan.Ortaca is a...
, Dalaman, and Köyceğiz
Köycegiz
Köyceğiz is a town and district of Muğla Province in the Aegean region of Turkey.The town of Köyceğiz lies at the northern end of a lake of the same name which is joined to the Mediterranean Sea by a natural channel called Dalyan. Its unique environment is being preserved as a nature and wildlife...
gathered in Ortaca for celebration. There are also people of African ancestry living in some villages and municipalities of Antalya
Antalya Province
Antalya Province is located on the Mediterranean coast of south-west Turkey, between the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean sea.Antalya Province is the centre of Turkey's tourism industry, attracting 30% of foreign tourists visiting Turkey. The province of Antalya corresponds to the lands of...
and Adana
Adana Province
Adana Province is a province of Turkey located in south-central Anatolia. With a population of 2,085,225, it is the fifth most populous province in Turkey. The administrative seat of the province is the city of Adana, home to 78% of the residents of the province...
provinces. Some of the descendants of African settlers remain, mixed with the rest of the population in these areas, and many migrated to larger cities. These factors make it difficult to guess the number of Turks of African ancestry.
Mustafa Olpak
Mustafa Olpak
Mustafa Olpak is an Afro-Turkish writer and activist. His book Kenya-Girit-İstanbul: Köle Kıyısından İnsan Biyografileri has been compared to Alex Haley's Roots.-Biography:...
, a writer and a prominent Afro-Turk who is the founder of the first officially recognised organisation of Afro-Turks, claims that 2,000,000 people of African ancestry live on the littoral between Antalya
Antalya
Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :...
and İstanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. Olpak gives a number of around 3,000,000 people for the whole of Turkey. Turkish daily Sabah
Sabah (newspaper)
Sabah is a popular Turkish daily newspaper, with a circulation of around 330,000 as of 2011. Its name means "morning" in the Turkish language originating from Arabic...
has an estimate of approximately 800,000 "Black citizens."
Notable Afro-Turks
Arts- Defne Joy FosterDefne Joy FosterDefne Joy Foster was a Turkish-American actress, presenter and VJ.-Early life:Foster was born on September 2, 1975 in İncirlik, Turkey. Her father Steve is an African American and her mother Hatice is a Turk from İzmir...
, television presenter (African American father) - Neşe Sayles, actress (Jamaican father)
- EsmerayEsmerayEsmeray Diriker was a Turkish singer.-Biography:Esmeray is of Afro-Turkish descent was born in the Emirgan district of Istanbul. In 1960, she dropped out of her last year of Emirgan Secondary School, to join the Istanbul community theatre, and performed on stage for the first time in a children's...
, singer - Tuğçe GüderTugçe GüderTuğçe Güder is a Turkish model who was chosen as the , an international annual competition, in 2005 and represented Turkey at the Best Model of the World modelling pagaent....
, adopted by Turkish parents, model and actress - Kuzgun Acar, sculptor
- Mansur Ark, musician
- Safiye AylaSafiye AylaSafiye Ayla was one of the most famous singers of Turkish classical music.She began her musical education as a piano student...
, musician - Yasemin Esmergül, actress
- Ahmet Kostarika, actor
- Dursune Şirin, actress
- İbrahim Şirin, classical Ottoman musicianOttoman classical musicOttoman classical music developed in Istanbul and major Ottoman towns from Skopje to Cairo, from Tabriz to Morocco through the palace, mosques, and sufi lodges of the Ottoman Empire. Above all a vocal music, Ottoman music traditionally accompanies a solo singer with a small instrumental ensemble...
- Sait Sökmen, ballet dancer, choreographer (Guinean mother)
- Melis Sökmen, actress, musician (Guinean grandmother)
- Cenk Sökmen, musician
- Sibel Sürel, ballerina
- Tuncay Vural, choreographer
Sports
- Alemitu Bekele DegfaAlemitu Bekele DegfaAlemitu Bekele is an Ethiopian-born Turkish long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres.She was born in Shoa, Ethiopia. In the 5000 metres she finished seventh at the 2008 Olympic Games...
, Naturalized, Ethiopian long distance runner - Elvan AbeylegesseElvan AbeylegesseElvan Abeylegesse is an Ethiopian-born Turkish middle and long distance track and field athlete, running in the disciplines of 1500 m, 3000 m and 5000 m, but also 10000 m, 2 miles and cross country...
, Naturalized, Ethiopian long distance runner - Fercani Bey, footballer
- Ömer Besim Koşalay, athlete, journalist
- Vahap ÖzaltayVahap ÖzaltayVahap Özaltay was a Turkish footballer, notable for his career at Altay S.K., being the first professional football player in Turkey, being the first Turkish player to ever play for a foreign club,. He chose his last name based on his love for Altay .Özaltay was born in 1908 in Istanbul. He was...
, footballer - Hadi Türkmen, former vice-president of the Turkish Football FederationTurkish Football FederationThe Turkish Football Federation , also called the Turkish Football Association, is the governing body of football in Turkey. It was formed on 23 April 1923. It organizes the Turkish national teams and the Turkish football league. By 2004, there were 4,956 football clubs organized in Turkey, and a...
- Sadri Usuoğlu, football manager
- Mustafa Yıldız known as "Arap Mustafa", wrestler
- Marco "Mehmet" Aurélio, naturalized, BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian born footballer - Gökçek VedersonGökçek VedersonGökçek Vederson , is a Brazilian-Turkish footballer who currently playing for Bursaspor.-Career:...
, naturalized, BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian born footballer - Colin Kazim-RichardsColin Kazim-RichardsColin Kazim-Richards , commonly known as Colin Kâzım, Kâzım or Kâzım Kâzım, is an English-born Turkish footballer who plays for Galatasaray, and internationally for Turkey having qualified for Turkish nationality through his mother's ethnicity...
, footballer
Literature
- Mustafa OlpakMustafa OlpakMustafa Olpak is an Afro-Turkish writer and activist. His book Kenya-Girit-İstanbul: Köle Kıyısından İnsan Biyografileri has been compared to Alex Haley's Roots.-Biography:...
, writer and activist
Politics
- Zenci Musa, Teşkilât-ı MahsûsaTeşkîlât-ı MahsûsaThe Special Organization was an Ottoman imperial government special forces unit under the War Department allegedly progenitor of the National Security Service , which was used to suppress Arab separatism and Western imperialism under Ottoman Empire. The main aim of the Special Organization was to...
member
Military
- Ahmet Ali (Arap Ahmet)Ahmet Ali (Arap Ahmet)Ahmet Ali Çelikten also known as Arap Ahmet Ali or İzmirli Ahmet Ali may have been the first black military pilot in aviation history and the only black pilot in World War I along with Eugene Jacques Bullard...
, Ottoman military pilot
See also
- Slavery in the Ottoman EmpireSlavery (Ottoman Empire)Slavery was an important part of Ottoman society until the Ottoman Empire extinguished slavery of Caucasians in the early 19th century. The practice carried over into Ottoman reign...
- Black people in the Ottoman Empire
- Black people in Turkey
- Afro-ArabAfro-ArabAfro-Arab refers to people of mixed Black African and genealogical Arab ancestral heritage and/or linguistically and culturally Arabized Black Africans...
- Afro IranianAfro IranianPeople of Black African descent reside in Iran. Most Afro Iranians are concentrated in Hormozagan, Sistan and Baluchestan and Khuzestan.-History:The Indian Ocean slave trade was multi-directional and changed over time...
- Afro Iraqis
External links
Afro-Turk Website of the Afro-Turks' association in Ayvalık Sessiz Bir Geçmişten Sesler Website of a research project on Afro-Turks Turks with African ancestors want their existence to be felt, Today's ZamanToday's Zaman
Today's Zaman is one of two English-language dailies based in Turkey. Established on January 16, 2007, the newspaper's main competitor is the older Hürriyet Daily News....
, 25 June 2008