The Afro-Turks: a call for study and inclusion

What is it about?

The idea of creating an archive and documenting oral histories is examined in this paper. It makes an effort to assess the information that is currently accessible on Afro-Turks in the contemporary Turkish state and poses the following questions: How, when, and where did Africans arrive in Turkey? What do they know about their past? What role do they play in contemporary Turkey as an ethnic minority?

Featured Image

Photo by Doug Swinson on Unsplash

Photo by Doug Swinson on Unsplash

Why is it important?

It demonstrates how Africans, who are today known as Afroturks, historically migrated into Ottoman territory and then transcended into the present Turkish Republic. For scholars, it raises awareness and provides insight for scholarly work on Afroturks.

Perspectives

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Both during the Ottoman era and the founding of contemporary Turkey, the Afroturks were integral to Turkish society. Their loyal service to the Ottoman Empire included fighting with the Ottoman Army. Additionally, they fiercely battled to establish a Turkish Republic throughout the independence struggle.However, it appears that their past, devoted work and commitment have been lost to time. They should be accepted into society and given the credit they merit for being Turks—Afroturks—despite being men of colour.

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