Women's hand in cultural diplomacy: African Culture House Association

The African Culture House Association, which establishes a heart bond between Turkish women and African women through handicrafts and handicrafts, set out in 2016 as a social responsibility project under the auspices of Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, and became an association two years ago. Today, as the only association recognized by the African Union, it is one of Turkey's most important examples of cultural diplomacy.

One of Turkey's most important institutions in the field of cultural diplomacy is the African Culture House Association. The African Culture House Association is a social responsibility project that demonstrates how productive, colorful and culturally diverse this large and rich geography consisting of 54 countries is, contrary to the image of poor, exploited and foreign-dependent Africa created all over the world, and is one of the non-governmental organizations established under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan. Africa Culture House, the only association recognized and cooperated with by the African Union, is a warm and cozy place that everyone who goes to Ankara wants to see and whose praise reaches everyone by word of mouth. Welcoming its guests with the most vibrant colors of Africa, the place establishes a bond between Turkish women and African women through handicrafts and handicrafts. The fabric woven by an African woman in her village turns into an eye-catching product with the touches of an Anatolian woman. Students from Tanzania, Senegal, South Africa, Algeria and South Africa who come to our country to receive education feel at home in this place, as Mrs. Emine Erdoğan calls it, and they get rid of the feeling of being an expatriate in Africa House. At a time when racism and xenophobia extends to African students, the existence of Africa House of Culture gains even more importance. African youth from the world's second largest continent, who come to Turkey for education and careers, witness the true hospitality of Turkey in a sincere and genuine place that values them and their culture and develops joint projects.

Zeliha Saglam

The African Culture House, which hosts many events every year on May 25, World Africa Day, will organize a special program in Gölbaşı on May 26 this year. Participants will be able to see the handicraft products of all African countries together in the area to be created with the contributions of ASHOM, which was established by the spouses of African ambassadors in Turkey. The African Culture House Association will also take part in the book fair organized by the Şule Yüksel Şenler Foundation between 25-27 May at the Rami Library with colorful African handicrafts.

THIS IS A STORE OF HUMANITY
Founded in 2016 under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan in order to contribute to the social development efforts of the African continent and to support African women in the fields of education and health, the African Handicrafts and Culture House became an association in a short time due to the interest it received and the great humanitarian touch of the work done.

The mission of Africa House, which started with the idea of Emine Erdoğan, who accompanied President Erdoğan on his visits to Africa, to market the handicrafts of African women at the value they deserve, on a non-profit basis, has become much broader and more effective after becoming an association. Senegalese famous musician Cheik Lo's description of it as a 'store of humanity' shows this. The venue is one of the places in Turkey that accurately describes the perception of Africa and provides first-hand information about Africa.

Africa Culture House Association, which is the meeting point of African cultures and contributes to Turkey-Africa relations, makes African students living in Turkey feel at home. Supporting the survival of the ancient handicrafts of African countries and carrying them to the future, Africa Culture House also undertakes an important mission in protecting the cultural heritage in the region by supporting the production of traditional arts specific to the countries with original materials.

MEETING PLACE OF AFRICAN CULTURES
The African Culture House, which operates in Hamamönü, Ankara, set out as a social responsibility project aiming to sell the products produced by African women's handicrafts in Turkey without any profit motive and to recycle the revenues to African women. The African Culture House, which continues to work with organizations such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, TIKA, Yunus Emre Institute, YTB, Turkish Airlines, MÜSİAD, DEİK, is designed as a place where handcrafted products from 40 different African countries are exhibited and offered for sale, and where African missions, artists and students in Turkey can meet and organize cultural events. The African Culture House, where workshops, academic events, trainings and internship programs are also organized, has become a place visited by the ambassadors of African countries serving in Turkey and their spouses, and a place that African artists visiting Turkey are curious about and want to visit.

The African Culture House, where African women's handicrafts are displayed, includes products from forty African countries such as Ghana, Ivory Coast, Niger, Gambia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Senegal, Benin, Mali, Cameroon and Guinea. The African Handicrafts and Culture House, located in Ankara's historical district of Hamamönü, functions not only as a market where handmade African products are delivered to those interested in them, but also as a place where African cultures meet.

May 25, 2024

Source:Evening