A famous traditional Turkish shadow play, Karagöz Istanbul Explorer will be staged for different African audiences, following its successful show at Africa’s Ubumuntu Arts Festival in Kigali in Rwanda, said Fatih Polat, the Karagöz master. “I have got a lot of inspirational feedback. I consider this Rwandan performance to be the starting point for performing in other major African audiences,” Polat informed Anadol.
The fifth annual Ubumuntu Arts Festival featured theatrical performances that attempted to answer the question: “What if the walls you constructed for others today will become your own downfall tomorrow?” A group of local and international artists gathered here for three days with brightly colored chalk and white chalk scribbled writing for humanity across a black stage wall.
“Stop violence, fight against division and any kind of crime against humanity. Peace to everyone, Peace in the world. Together we can,” they read.
Polat performed with artists from Rwanda, Uganda, the United States, Austria and the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 12.
Polat said one of the Karagöz play’s primary objectives is to demonstrate individuals are the same irrespective of one’s beliefs or ethnic group.
“You can be Jewish, White or Indian, you can be a believer in the Prophet Mohammed or Jesus, that doesn’t matter,” he said.
“What is important is that we are all the same. We should not be divided by ethnicity or our beliefs. People should be able to integrate.”
The festival included theater, poetry, dance, movements, and acrobatics performances.
The festival was attended by troops from 16 nations including Turkey.
Polat said Karagöz show also gives him the chance to invite individuals to visit Istanbul to see its historical characteristics. He observed that he was pleased to raise the flag of his country while effectively performing Istanbul Explorer at this festival .
Polat stated that he was excited by various cultures at the festival.
“I felt excited after the show when onlookers smiled and laughed. It showed me that they loved the show, even when they do not know about Karagöz,” he said.
“After the show, several onlookers came and hugged and thanked me, saying it was a very nice show brother, very nice show. It was really exciting to me. I think this might be the start of Karagöz tours in Africa.”
Karagöz Istanbul Explorer is a popular two friends shadow play. The comic tale features two primary characters who explore areas together, Karagöz and Hacivat.
One lead artist is manipulating the puppets. A person who wishes to discover Istanbul is presented in the game. Karagöz is embarking on a trip with his friend Hacivat and going on exciting adventures.
One of the oldest types of Turkish art is the traditional Turkish shadow theater
The game, which occupies a major position in Turkey, includes two- dimensional individuals, casting their shadows on a screen .
The figures hide in people’s form or stuff are kept on rods to cast their shadows on a screen in front of a light source. The game starts with the screen projection of an introductory figure that indicates the drama’s topics before it vanishes to the shrill whistle sound. The opening section is called “mukaddime” where Hacivat recites the curtain poem, calls for Karagöz, and the reasoning is there. In 2009, Karagöz was recorded on behalf of Turkey on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.