We had an exclusive interview with Turkish academician in South Africa, Researcher-Author Dr. Halim Gençoğlu about our cultural heritage in Africa. Halim Gençoğlu said, “Ottoman tombs in Africa are undoubtedly our title deeds in this old continent. We protect our cultural heritage by repairing the graves of Ottoman intellectuals.”
Working as a researcher in the Department of African Studies at the University of Cape Town, one of the most important educational centers in South Africa, Halim Gençoğlu works devotedly for the protection of the cultural heritage of the Ottoman Empire in Africa. Halim Gençoğlu had the graves of many Ottoman intellectuals repaired especially, Mudarris Ebubekir and Dr. Havva Hayrunnisa. Gencoglu, who sees protecting our ancestors' graves as a historical responsibility, is determined to continue these works. Reminding that many Ottoman tombs are currently in need of care, both in South Africa and the African continent, Gençoğlu answered the questions of the Milli Gazete.
“WE PROTECT OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE”
Mr. Gençoğlu, we know that you have provided important services for the survival of the cultural heritage of the Ottoman Empire both in the African continent and in the country of South Africa. Can you talk about these works of yours?
During the time I lived in South Africa, which I came to 13 years ago for the purpose of colonial history studies, I try to find and repair the tombs of Ottoman intellectuals that were on the verge of disappearing. One of the reasons I went to the business of having these tombs built was because the institution responsible for repairing them was uninterested in the subject from the very beginning and we could not get an answer despite informing them years ago. On this occasion, I had Mudarris Ebubekir's tomb built for the first time in 2013. I also repaired the graves of nine other Ottoman citizens that I found during my research in South Africa. I announced these works to the public through social media and my books. In this process I must say that I am the recipient of the moral and material support of our people. In fact, with these activities, it has been revealed that repairing a tomb in order to protect the historical heritage is not as difficult as it was thought. In my humble opinion, I believe that instead of waiting for everything from the state, it is better to take responsibility for our cultural heritage in Africa. We can neither let that heritage disappear because someone else is not doing it, nor can we get out of it by saying the state should do it. I am of the opinion that these are the conscientious responsibility of every Turkish child that should show sensitivity without expecting anything in return.
“OTTOMAN GRAVES ARE OUR TITLE DEEDS IN AFRICA”
As an academic and historical researcher, how would you describe the value of Ottoman tombs in Africa?
Ottoman tombs in Africa are undoubtedly our title deeds in this old continent. To remember the Ottoman intellectuals who gave life to new generations in various countries of the old continent and who died there, and teaching them to future generations is not only a duty of loyalty but a necessity. Inappropriate expressions such as "Black Africa", "African native who has never eaten meat" or "child washed with clean water for the first time", which have been seen on social media lately when it comes to Africa, have nothing to do with our history. If our ancestors had shown such an approach while serving the indigenous people in Africa, that common cultural heritage dating back centuries would not have been possible.
“THE GRAVES OF OUR ANCESTORS IN AFRICA NEED CARE”
I have heard before from you that there are Ottoman tombs waiting to be protected in Africa. Where are these ancestral tombs other than South Africa?
The historical mosque, built 1200 years ago in Cairo by a Turkish ruler, Tulunoğlu Ahmet, is still standing. The tomb of the buried Ottoman scholar in Egypt, whom Evliya Çelebi referred to as Kurdish Sinan, is in need of care. The Mauritius Ministry of Culture had personally informed us that the tombs in which the Ottoman sailors were buried on the island of Mauritius were discovered in the city of Laskar. Let us pass this information on to the authorities. However, no steps have been taken yet to bring these tombs into history. There are still Ottoman tombs in need of care and waiting to be unearthed in places we could not reach. One of the historical Ottoman tombs that still needs to be repaired is the tomb of Yemen Governor Özdemir Pasha in Eritrea. Özdemir Pasha, who died in East Africa, especially on the Red Sea coast, because he could not leave the region during the years of struggle with the Portuguese, and whose grave is located in Massava, has a great place in our history. The repair and unearthing of his grave is actually a project befitting our state. This tomb also gives us an important clue about the history of Eritrea - Turkey relations. The tomb of Dr. Havva Hayrünnisa, the first Muslim woman doctor to die in South Africa, is undoubtedly one of these historical tombs.
“A HISTORIC PERSON: DR. HAVVA HAYRUNNİSA”
What is the significance of Dr. Havva Hayrünnisa whose grave was repaired last February, for our history? Can you tell the story of this enlightened Turkish elder?
Havva Hayrünnisa was born in Cape Town in 1888 as the granddaughter of Mudarris Ebubekir and the daughter of Ahmet Ataullah. When his father died in 1903 while he was the Singapore Consul General, he received medical education in London, supported by the Ottoman Empire, and worked as a doctor in Istanbul for a while. I had previously shared her letter that he sold his microscope because she was broke during the World War II years. There is a detailed chapter about her in our book 122 Bree Street, which I wrote last year. In that episode, for the first time, I revealed the historical personality of Havva Hayrünnisa and shared her grave that we found in Johannesburg.
“ADVENTURE OF PROTECTING OUR HISTORICAL VALUES”
Could you share with our readers your struggle for the establishment of tomb of Dr. Havva Hayrünnisa?
I first reported this tomb of Dr. Havva Hayrünnisa to be built by the authorities. When I didn't get any news, an idea came to my mind. I said why don't I have this tomb built as well. Since Havva Hayrünnisa’s grave is in Johannesburg, it was a little difficult to transport her tombstone from Cape Town to there. We made up our minds and set off. First, I announced this grave to the public via social media and made a call saying let's do it together. There are always those who take responsibility for charity in the Turkish nation. Many beautiful people, from the district governor to the engineer, from the teacher to the diplomat, kept the job. More or less, they were all supportive. Those who wanted to help a Turkish grave in Africa from Sivas, Tekirdağ, İzmir and İstanbul were actually those who claimed their history. Knowing this is actually a very good thing. So, the medium called social media is as much a reality as it is a dream. Maybe I would have finished this repair later. The moral and material support of our people encouraged me to accelerate this modest project. I had the tombstone made in Cape Town. A Turkish flag from our Consul General Sinan Yeşildağ I took it and left. Its height is 1,70 cm. When the plane refused to accept the tombstone, I took it to Johannesburg by land. On Sunday, we put the tombstone of Dr. Havva Hayrünnisa in a commemoration program participated by family relatives, our ambassador Ayşegül Kandaş and with the participation of Hayrünnisa’s nephews Yural Atala and Ekrem Tansel. Political Researches Center of Africa (AFROSAM) shared the program live by connecting via social media. On this occasion, we have seen once again what we can do when we want it together.
“LUCKY US”
Can we have your last messages?
As Koca Yunus said, "If we share, we will be full, if we divide, we will perish." We all shouldered a burden together. I see the gist of the matter as simple as that. The grave of an elder, whose name, presumption and location are known, has now been recorded in the Johannesburg Newcleare cemetery at the tip of Africa, without ever going into the gravity of Mercury, the beauty of Venus, or an astrological explanation. If we can say that a Turkish intellectual, Dr. Havva Hayrunnisa lies there, lucky us… I am grateful to everyone who provided financial and moral support.