First Turkish library in southern hemisphere

Institute (YEE) in Johannesburg is getting ready to open the first Turkish library in the southern hemisphere honoring Ebubekir Efendi, an Islamic scholar of the Ottoman Empire

The first and only Turkish library in the southern hemisphere honoring Ebubekir Efendi, who was sent to the Cape of Good Hope to introduce Islam during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz, will be opened by the Johannesburg Yunus Emre Institute (YEE).

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) about the library, South African Johannesburg YEE coordinator Gökhan Kahraman discussed the purpose of the institution, explaining that they want to strengthen the cultural relations between the two countries and also provide education for students who want to study the Turkey’s language and culture.

Explaining that there is great interest in the Turkish language and culture in the region, the

THE YUNUS EMRE

coordinator said that they have previously sent the brightest students from their Turkish Children’s Club to Turkey for summer school.

While detailing the cultural events hosted by the organization, Kahraman said South Africans have shown great interest in traditional arts, including calligraphy.

He also said that they try to contribute to all of the Turkish scholarships in cooperation with the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB).

“We have already given extensive information about Turkish scholarship programs to universities, academics, high schools and research centers. We expect a high number of applications from South Africa this year,” Kahraman said.

He also said they prepared an academic book that details Turkish contributions to South Africa and South Africans’ contributions to Turkey, and that they plan to publish it in English and in local languages in the near future.

Highlighting they are planning to introduce nearly 4,000 books in Turkish, English and various local languages, Kahraman said that Turkish culture will never be forgotten in literature or history in these regions.

“Our historical impact started with the arrival of Ebubekir Efendi to Cape Town on Jan. 13, 1863. The YEE is trying to continue his work in a sense. We are always thinking up ways to contribute to it,” he said.

The scholarly heritage left by Ebubekir Efendi, who was sent to the Cape of Good Hope in 1863 to teach Islam and to solve the religious and social controversies of Muslims in the period of Sultan Abdülaziz, is still going strong. The effects of Ebubekir Efendi’s personal work is also seen in the present, as well. For instance, his catechism “Beyanü’d-Din,” which he wrote in a local African dialect, is considered one of the earliest texts written in an African language, and the book was also the first religious text ever written in this language.

He opened the first Islamic girls’ school in South Africa called the Ottoman Theology School and built mosques in Cape Town, Kimberley, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

The descendants of the scholar, who played a significant role in the Ottoman Empire’s religious services in sub-Saharan Africa, have continued to live in the South Africa for five generations.