Post by kroraina on Apr 11, 2008 4:28:32 GMT -5
There is an article in Saturday's issue of the Macedonian newspaper VEST about the Torbesh from Macedonia who live in and around the town of Manisa near Izmir in Turkey -
"Plachat po Makedonija"
Here is one translated excerpt:
"Only in Manisa there are more than 20 thousand Torbesh, and in the whole district - more than 80 thousand. [Here] there are whole villages which we call according to the villages in Macedonia they come from. There are [people] from Gorno Vranovci, Veles, from the Delchevo, Strumica districts, but also from Tetovo and Debar", says the leader of the Union of the Macedonians, Selim Sharkta.
Selim was born in Manisa, but his parents are from Zhernovica and they have not let him forget the Macedonian language.
"Regardless of the fact that I know Macedonia only from the tales of my parents that I was visited several times my relatives, I am still Macedonian and through the Union, which has been 20 years in existence already, I make so that we do not loose the link with our roots. Most of all - through cultural and sports activities. It happened so that Manisa and Skopie fraternised. We have our own cultural-artistic union, our own football club. We don't have our own political party yet, but we are actively involved in the politics through the various parties. Although we may belong to different parties, our people from whatever part comes to power help to the other our people, especially when finding employment", says Selim.
Further on the article says how the Torbesh have preserved their traditions, especially a traditional spring gathering which they call 'letnik'.
"We gather on 21 April, boil grain, make pitas, guests from other towns in Turkey come to us, the town mayor, the valija, we bake sheep, we step on iron in order to be healthy, we eat apples, we cut our hair so that the year is 'easy' for us, we play, sing", says Selim.
There are more interviews with other Torbesh. At the end the article says that the Torbesh want to get Macedonian citizenship as well.
Vassil
"Plachat po Makedonija"
Here is one translated excerpt:
"Only in Manisa there are more than 20 thousand Torbesh, and in the whole district - more than 80 thousand. [Here] there are whole villages which we call according to the villages in Macedonia they come from. There are [people] from Gorno Vranovci, Veles, from the Delchevo, Strumica districts, but also from Tetovo and Debar", says the leader of the Union of the Macedonians, Selim Sharkta.
Selim was born in Manisa, but his parents are from Zhernovica and they have not let him forget the Macedonian language.
"Regardless of the fact that I know Macedonia only from the tales of my parents that I was visited several times my relatives, I am still Macedonian and through the Union, which has been 20 years in existence already, I make so that we do not loose the link with our roots. Most of all - through cultural and sports activities. It happened so that Manisa and Skopie fraternised. We have our own cultural-artistic union, our own football club. We don't have our own political party yet, but we are actively involved in the politics through the various parties. Although we may belong to different parties, our people from whatever part comes to power help to the other our people, especially when finding employment", says Selim.
Further on the article says how the Torbesh have preserved their traditions, especially a traditional spring gathering which they call 'letnik'.
"We gather on 21 April, boil grain, make pitas, guests from other towns in Turkey come to us, the town mayor, the valija, we bake sheep, we step on iron in order to be healthy, we eat apples, we cut our hair so that the year is 'easy' for us, we play, sing", says Selim.
There are more interviews with other Torbesh. At the end the article says that the Torbesh want to get Macedonian citizenship as well.
Vassil