Entertainment, Fun and Wit in Turkey

Nasreddin Hoca (pronounced "hodja") is a historical figure. He was born in 1208 in Hortu, a village in Central Anatolia and was a wise and very educated man who served as a Muslim judge in Aksehir. He became famous not only for his wisdom but also for his great sense of humor. His legend and tales of his deeds spread along the Silk Road as far as China and India and from there to Europe. The tales multiplied and became a source of world wide humor to such an extent that the UNESCO declared 1996 the Nasreddin Hoca Year. The Hoca is depicted as a man full of wisdom who conveys deep insights into human nature and failings in a humorous way. Here are two examples of "Hoca Teachings".

Hoca walks through his village and is approached by the village gossip. "Hoca," he cries, "I just saw a man stealing a lamb." Hoca shrugs and replies: "So, what do I care?" "But he ran toward YOUR house," the gossip exclaims. Hoca shrugs again and says: "So, what do you care?"

A man goes to Hoca with a letter in his hand and says: "Hoca, can you read this letter for me? I can't read." Hoca takes the letter but can't read it either because the handwriting is illegible. "Sorry," Hoca says, "I can't read it either." The man is outraged. "What," he shouts, "you are Hoca, you wear a turban and you can't read a simple letter?" Hoca takes off his turban, places it on the man's head and says: "Now you wear the turban. Let's see if you can read the letter."

Hoca has many facets and one of his most important "accessories" is his donkey which he rides backward, because it's enough if the animal sees where it's going. In that and the truths and insights he imparts, he is the forerunner of Sancho Panza. However, in all his sayings, doings and teachings Hoca is never malicious.

The two are the main characters of the Turkish shadow play, which is still widely performed and a highly skillful art form. Legend has it that Karagöz and Hacivat were construction workers on a mosque in Bursa during the Ottoman Empire. Instead of doing their job however, the two engaged in jokes, fights, discussions and general entertainment of their co workers, holding up the building works. One day, the sultan had enough and put an end to the fun by executing both. Their fellow workers missed them bitterly and one day, a man by the name of Seyh Kusteris had the idea to make puppets in their images out of camel hide, and started playing imitations of the couple's acts. From there the shadow theater evolved.

The main figure is Karagöz, or Black Eye, who is an uneducated lout, almost illiterate and rude, but represents the wisdom and common sense of the man of the street. His counterpart is Hacivat, educated and refined, but living so much on his intellectual cloud that he is no match at all for the cunning Karagöz. There are other figures in the 4 act plays too, one of them a female by the name of Nigar, who spends her time chasing after men.

The puppets themselves which are about 40 cm high, are semi-transparent and made from camel or cow hide and brightly painted. The joints are tied with rope. The play is performed before a white cotton curtain and a tambourine is the traditional instrument to accompany the opening act. There is only one puppeteer who plays all the parts, helped by an assistant who works the curtain and passes along the puppets as they appear in the unfolding drama.

Modern Turkey knows cartoons too and a very popular one is "Maganda the Lout," created by the artist Volkan Atalay.