Afro-Turks
Afro-Turks () are Turkish people of African Zanj (Bantu) heritage. Like the Afro-Abkhazians, they trace their origin to the Ottoman slave trade. Afro-Turk population is estimated to be between 5,000 and 20,000 people. Afro-Turks are different from African immigrants in Turkey, which are around 100,000 individuals. History. Beginning several centuries ago, a number of Africans, usually via Zanzibar as Zanj and from places such as Niger, Arabia, Libya, Kenya and Sudan, came to the Ottoman Empire settled by the Dalaman, Menderes and Gediz valleys, Manavgat and Çukurova. African quarters of 19th-century İzmir, including Sabırtaşı , Dolapkuyu, Tamaşalık, İkiçeşmelik and Ballıkuyu, are mentioned in contemporary records. Some came from Crete following the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923. They settled on the Aegean coast, mainly around İzmir. Africans in Ayvalık declare that their ancestors from Crete spoke Greek when they came to Turkey and learned Turkish later. Afro-Turks living in İzmir celebrated the traditional spring festival "Dana Bayramı" ("Calf Festival") until the 1960s. "Dana Bayramı" has currently been revived among the younger generation of Afro-Turks. Ahmet Ali Çelikten, was an Ottoman warpilot during World War I. Today. Areas with significant populations of  Afro-Turks are in Turkey's Aegean and Marmara Region, especially Istanbul, İzmir, Aydın and Muğla provinces. People of African ancestry also live in some villages and municipalities of Antalya and Adana provinces. Some of the descendants of the African settlers remain, mixed with the rest of the population in these areas and many migrated to larger cities. Migration and assimilation make it difficult to estimate the number of Afro-Turks. Notable Afro-Turks. Arts Sports Literature Politics Military