Türkiye-themed exhibition opens at South Africa’s museum

A new exhibition showcasing Turkish history and culture has debuted at the McGregor Museum in Kimberley, South Africa. The centerpiece of the exhibition is Ahmet Ataullah Efendi, son of the Ottoman Islamic scholar Ebubekir Efendi. Dispatched to South Africa in 1862 by Sultan Abdulaziz, Ataullah Efendi played a pivotal role in serving the Cape Malay Muslim community.

Ahmet Ataullah Efendi, who became an influential figure in Kimberley, served as a teacher and principal at the Ottoman school established in the city. The exhibition also showcases various aspects of Turkish culture and the history of Türkiye, offering visitors a comprehensive view of the historical ties between Türkiye and South Africa.

The exhibition, which is open to visitors until July 25, was inaugurated with a speech by Türkiye’s Consul General in Cape Town Sinan Yesildag. Speaking to an Anadolu Agency correspondent, Yesildag emphasized the significance of the McGregor Museum as one of the region’s most prestigious institutions. “The archival documents about Ahmet Ataullah Efendi sparked a lot of interest, leading us to collaborate on this exhibition that highlights the Türkiye-Kimberley connection,” he stated.

Legacy of Ahmet Ataullah Efendi

Yesildag provided insight into Ahmet Ataullah Efendi’s background, explaining that he was born and raised in Cape Town, pursued his education in Egypt, and was later appointed by the Ottoman Empire as a teacher and principal in Kimberley. He further noted that Ataullah Efendi became a candidate for the Cape Parliament and was later appointed as the first Turkish Consul General in Singapore, where he tragically passed away in a traffic accident.

In addition to featuring documents and information about Ahmet Ataullah Efendi and his son Rustu Ataullah Efendi, the exhibition includes various elements related to Turkish culture and modern Türkiye. “We believe this exhibition will attract significant interest from the people of Kimberley, especially young people and students,” Yesildag said.

Future collaborations and research opportunities

Yesildag also announced plans to designate Kimberley as a “brother city” with a city in Türkiye and to pursue a master’s or doctoral research topic at Sol Plaatje University focusing on Türkiye-Kimberley relations.

Sunet Swanpoel, CEO of the McGregor Museum, expressed excitement about the Turkish exhibition, noting that the museum, founded in 1907, primarily focuses on the history of the Northern Cape province and Kimberley.

“Before our collaboration with Consul General Yesildag, we were unaware of the historical connection between Türkiye and Kimberley. Through nearly a year of research, we uncovered many aspects of this bond. We now see a truly strong connection between Türkiye and Kimberley,” Swanpoel remarked.