Turkish culture and cuisine were introduced at the Turkish Day and Turkish Food Festival held in the Republic of South Africa. Turkish Day and Turkish Food Festival were held at Victoria Jards in Johannesburg under the name of “Turkish Food Market’’ with the participation of nearly 3,000 people. 

Turks and South Africans living in the country participated in the festival. The event organized by Yunus Emre Institute under the auspices of Turkish Embassy in Pretoria was attended by the Embassy staff, Ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Kazakhstan with their families.

In her speech at the exhibition, Turkey’s Ambassador to Pretoria, Ayşegül Kandaş, said, “Our festival was quite successful and there were more participants than we expected.  A large number of visitors, especially from South Africans, who know or want to know Turkish cuisine, attended.’’

Noting that this festival was very beneficial for reinforcing cultural relations between Turkey and South Africa, Kandaş said, “This festival was organized for the first time by our embassy and Yunus Emre Institute. We are planning to do it at least once a year at certain intervals.’’

Stating that various examples of handicrafts were also exhibited, Yunus Emre Institute Director Abdülaziz Yiğit noted that Turkish archery was also promoted and attracted great attention.

Turkish courses, Turkish handicrafts, traditional Turkish archery, Turkish food, textile, and carpet products were also introduced to the program, which attracted great interest in South Africa. In the program where Turkish cuisine was introduced, Turkish desserts, Turkish tea, and coffee were served to the visitors.  Zainub Moolla, who learned Turkish at the festival within the body of Yunus Emre Institute, performed Yunus Emre’s poem “Ben Yürürüm Yana Yana’’ in Turkish and English, while Danae Issel sang the song “Sen Çal Kapımı’’. In addition, the South African Sweet Voices Chorale choir group sang the song “Üsküdar’a gider iken’’ and Yunus Emre’s poem “Bana Seni Gerek’’ in chorus.

The trainees who learned Turkish at Yunus Emre Institute wore the costumes of Yunus Emre, Nasreddin Hodja, Karagöz and Hacivat and introduced important figures of Turkish culture.

One of our institute’s trainees, who contributed positively to the relations between Turkey and South Africa, South African Marion Kate Smith, a lover of Turkey, expressed her pleasure in contributing to the friendship between the two countries on the occasion of this event.

Yunus Emre Institute Director Abdülaziz Yiğit expressed his satisfaction to meet with South Africans on this beautiful Turkish day where cultural interaction was ensured and thanked Turkish companies that promoted Turkish products and took part in the program.

BEAUTIES OF TURKEY PHOTO EXHIBITION

The South African Republic leg of the “Beauties of Turkey Photo Exhibition’’ held abroad under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs started in Pretoria on May 26, 2022. The photo exhibition opened by Ambassador Ayşegül Kandaş and presented to art lovers will be open to visitors in June at Johannesburg Yunus Emre Institute.