Ethiopians Learn Turkish in droves

[Holac]

Ethiopian youth are showing great interest in a Turkish studies project launched by the Yunus Emre Institute and there is huge demand for additional courses.

Three major learning institutions -- Addis Ababa, Wollo and Mekelle universities -- have been taking part in the project since March, teaching Turkish to 900 Ethiopian students, and there are plans to extend it due to strong demand.

Emine Ciftci, who works as a lecturer at Wollo University, told an Anadolu Agency correspondent that she has taught the Turkish language to 470 people.

"All of my students are studying engineering and are eager to learn Turkish because they plan to work with Turkish companies in Ethiopia. They believe that knowing Turkish will help them get into the business easily," she said.

Ciftci said the hospitality of Ethiopians and their keen interest in the language are helpful to her work and stay in the country.

Kubilay Han Kalkan, a Turkish lecturer at Addis Ababa University, said they registered 110 students for this academic year because they have a limited number of classes dedicated to the project.

''There is huge additional demand for the courses. We always have new students registering for the next class,'' he said.

The Yunus Emre Institute’s goal is to promote Turkish language and culture to people living thousands of kilometers away from Ankara, Kalkan said, adding his department will accept a higher number of students next year.

Hussein Idris, a graduate student of sociology at Addis Ababa University, said he is very happy to be doing well with his Turkish lessons and hopes to pursue his graduate studies in Turkey.

He expressed his love for Turkey and its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying he closely follows news about Turkey and Erdogan.

"May Allah grant a long life to Erdogan. I always pray for him. I want Turkey to have a strong relationship with the Horn of African countries Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea," he said.

Yildiz Cetin, a Turkish lecturer at Mekelle University, said they are teaching Turkish to 320 students this semester.

"The lessons are very productive. Students from departments like law, accounting and social sciences are taking our courses."

Cetin said the students have already learned about Turkish culture from Turkish drama series and there is growing demand to be allowed to celebrate Turkish Day at the college.

"There is an amazing level of interest from the students, and we are trying to meet the demand. Students are competing to visit Turkey and attend summer school," he added.

The Yunus Emre Institute has launched Turkish studies projects in 46 countries and at 85 universities. Eighty-five Turkish academicians are working with the projects and taught 4,785 people Turkish last year. The institute is planning to enable successful students to take summer courses in Turkey.

https://aa.com.tr/en/africa/ethiopian-students-keen-on-learning-turkish/1098003

[Old_Observer]

This is best music to ears of Ethiopians. So many battles the Ottomans and Ethiopians/Abyssinins fought against each other during the hey days of the Ottoman empire, but there was never hate thought in Turkey or Ethiopia on each other.

Both societies understand that fighting for power fighting for wealth fighting for expansion is every human societies adventure. The Ottomans never succeeded in capturing Abyssinia and the Abyssinians never were able to completely kick out the Ottomans from Red Sea.

An Ethiopian prince was not crowned and then overthrown, because he wanted alliance with Turkey in WWI. He was overthrown by British, French and Italian embassies in collusion with Shiwa/Amhara nobles Haileslassie.

 

Ethiopia now has a chance to send her children and learn and be trained in technologies of the day from people who have no suspicion or hiding certain knowledge.

 

Turkey is renovating and preparing the first mosque in the African continent for world heritage status at Negash, Ethiopia.

It must be lack of funds or instructors that it has not started in Semera and Jigjiga Universities. On the other hand the number of students in Jigjiga university that are Somali is the same proportion as the Somali students in Meqelle or Addis Ababa.

FYI the current president of Ethiopia has working knowledge of Turkish. He can function in government or social in Turkish language. Not sure if that was bonus point in his election by parliament.

[maakhiri1]

Ethiopia has a lot roots connection, even some of the polulation are Turkish. so why not.

[Old_Observer]

58 minutes ago, maakhiri1 said:

Ethiopia has a lot roots connection, even some of the polulation are Turkish. so why not.

I think I guess what you have in mind. There is more of the same in the north, more than the south east area you have in mind.

[Holac]

Who are the Ethiopians with the Turkish roots? The Hareris?

[Old_Observer]

Hareri yes have part. The Hareri are most influenced by Turkish even though the Ottomans were there in the city for only  about 11 years. On the other hand the Turks relationship there can be said centuries. Zeila and Harer were always together and the times not together, were always very close.

In the north the Turks always occupied one port or another. They win one loose the other with the Xabeshi. BTW except for the extracaricullar activities by some soldiers of Ahmed Gurey fighting between Turks/Ottoman and Xabeshi never had any religious conflict was purely territorial control and economic.

Best example is that even after all the battles fought between them, there is not a single negative propaganda against Turks in Ethiopia and same among Turkish people as well.