Second Turkish food and culture festival held in South Africa


Date posted: April 5, 2011

The second edition of the Turkish Culture and Food Festival in South Africa was held on Sunday at Zoo Lake, Johannesburg. Ten thousand people attended the festival, which put Turkish culture and cuisine on show. Live performances by an Ottoman janissary band, otherwise known as “Mehter” in Turkish, in particular, attracted much attention.

The Mehter band garnered much interest and increased anticipation for the festival from the day before, as they marched through the streets of Johannesburg, performing to crowds that gathered to listen to them play traditional military songs.

Students from Turkish schools around South Africa also performed traditional songs and dances for those at the festival.

In attendance at the festival were Mardin Governor Hasan Duruer and a Turkish deputy from Samsun, Birnur Şahinoğlu. Dali Tambo, the son of anti-apartheid politician Oliver Tambo, and his wife Rachel Tambo were also present. Describing the festival as a “wonderful event,” having attended two years in a row, Tambo said that he looks forward to visiting Turkey in the future.

Many South Africans, tasting Turkish cuisine for the first time, queued up outside food stalls to savor Turkish döner kebabs, kebabs, baklava and other traditional dishes. Most of the food was homemade by Turkish families living in South Africa, while the döner kebabs and shish kebabs were cooked and sold during the festival.

Source: Today's Zaman , 19 March 2011


Related News

Turkish govt has declared war on us, Nigerian student cries out from hiding

Nigerian students in Turkey are in hiding following the government’s crackdown on them. “We are scared of leaving our rooms for fear of being arrested and charged with terrorism, or deported. Most of us are in our final year. What do we do?” students said.

The Turkey in Uganda

I’ve been in Uganda for the last 4-5 days to see the schools of the Gulen Movement. As my colleagues missed the flight I’m the only one here. But this turned out to be a good thing. As they welcomed me as the most precious guest and I could visit the houses of the Turkish […]

Kimse Yok Mu President: We are not leaving Somalia

Kimse Yok Mu Foundation President Ismail Cingoz announced: “We are not leaving Somalia because of the terrorist attacks targeting Turkey.” Cingoz had talked to the volunteers in Somalia once again before the announcement. He reported they were grieved at the terrorists attacks but felt no concerns or fears as they knew the condition the country was in when they first arrived. He further stated that they will carry on with their services against all the odds.

Hizmet and Turkey’s relations with Nigeria

Apart from establishing most successful educational institutions in Nigeria, the Hizmet Movement, which is also referred to as Gulen Movement, has been in the fore-front in propagating modern face of Islam, while at the same time building bridges of peace through interfaith dialogue.

Global Doctors Movement goes to Africa, performs 65 cataract surgeries

Doctors with the Global Doctors Movement (Küresel Doktorlar Hareketi) and medical students from the Healing Hands Club of Şifa University have treated 65 cataract patients in Cameroon, Mali, and Somalia.

As Turkey’s war on Gulen escalates, so does impact on Africa

While critics say that Gülen is at best a cult figure, he is considered by many the legitimate spiritual leader of an Islamic movement that is focused on humanitarian service – hence the common name Hizmet – as well as interfaith dialogue and education.

Latest News

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

Turkey’s Erdogan Battles Country’s Most Powerful Religious Movement

Turkish dinner in Erie brings together flavors, cultures

Police, inspectors raid Gülen-inspired schools in Manisa for 3rd time

What can Christians learn from a global Islamic movement?

Turkish Scholar Fethullah Gulen Speaks about PKK

Rhode Island’s latest refugees flee Turkey’s repressive regime

Gülen speaks to Kurdish paper, renews his support for education in mother tongue

Copyright 2024 Hizmet News