Learning Turkish: What You’re Up Against
The task of learning a new language while living in a foreign country can be a fun challenge. But it can also be stressful, and...
Small Projects Istanbul: Emphasizing Education
“They first need to learn Turkish to be better integrated into their Turkish communities -- namely, their schools,” stressed Anna Tuson, the communication manager...
Legends of Turkey: Sarıkız
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl with shiny blonde hair that ran down her shoulders and sweet hazel eyes which sparkled...
(Through Sep 12) Venice VR Expanded 2020 @ Soho House
The Venice International Film Festival’s VR program “Venice VR Expanded 2020” has come to Istanbul
For the first time in its 125 year history, La...
Ramadan in Turkey: A Primer
Ramadan, pronounced in Turkish as Ramazan, is once again upon us. There are the basic tenets of the month-long fast that anyone living in...
In Conversation with Itır Erhart on Running and the Adım Adım...
Itır Erhart, an Assistant Professor at the Media School, a part of Istanbul Bilgi University’s Faculty of Communication, studies a wide range of topics,...
The Dönme: A Profile of a Hidden People
“A Doenmeh friend of mine told me his father had informed him that his father’s mother used to go to the beach every Friday...
The Restless Art of Mohammad Zaza
Mohammad Zaza is an accidental convert to the life of a travelling artist. Born in Saudi Arabia to Syrian parents, Zaza moved to Aleppo in 2005...
Five Beloved Turkish TV Series from the 2000s
Every New Year's Eve, Turks reminisce about the early 2000s and its classics. Rightly so, if there was something special about the 2000s, it...
Istanbul Toy Museum: Blast from the Past
Nestled deep in the back streets of Göztepe lies the Istanbul Toy Museum. The lovely white house is guarded by two giraffes ready to...
In Conversation with Ray Cullom, Executive Director of the Zorlu Center...
For the second part of our interview, I asked Ray about his work at Zorlu Center PSM and how the project has developed over the...
Aziz Nesin: Author, Humorist, Activist
At a gathering of the elite doctors of the world, speaker after speaker demonstrates a miracle of medical science. An operation able to change...
Ancient Love Affair: Carian Project, a Self-Initiated Artist Residency
After moving from Istanbul to the small village of Turunç in southwest Turkey’s Muğla region, I finally had the time and energy to explore...
13 Things You Didn’t Know About Indie Rock Star Mac DeMarco
Salon İKSV’s one daylong festival Gezgin Salon, in which concerts are spread all over the city rather than taking place at only Salon İKSV,...
Insider Trading: St. John of Stoudios
In a city whose skyline is spiked with thousands of minarets, it is sometimes forgotten just how many churches are snuggled in the back...
Camel Wrestling in the Land of the Efe
Camel wrestling is, in a word, raucous. Smoke permeates every inch of the earthen amphitheater, so much so that it is difficult to make...
Diwali in Istanbul: The Indian Festival of Lights
In November, Yabangee contributor Devanshu Bawa and I were invited to the Indian Diwali Festival that is organized annually by the Friends of India...
20 Must-See Turkish TV Series: 2000s
While it's safe to say that Turkish TV series have always been widely popular domestically, recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the...
(Sep 18 – Oct 5) 48th Istanbul Music Festival by IKSV
From the organizer:
Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) with the support of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and...
Istanbul’s Hidden Architecture: Şemsi Pasha Mosque
Mimar Sinan was, without a doubt, the greatest architect of the Ottoman empire. His importance and influence are often compared with his contemporary Michelangelo, and it's an established...
Neighborhood Stroll: Balat
One of my family's favorite weekend activities, particularly now that it's gotten warmer, is to spend the morning wandering around neighborhoods, whether it's our...
In Conversation with Swedish Cultural Attaché Suzi Erşahin
As a dweller of Nişantaşı, I am lucky enough to be located in one of the centers of the Istanbul arts and cultural scene....
Levantine Lessons: Discovering Syria in Istanbul
“Light is more important than the lantern,
The poem more important than the notebook”
― Syrian poet, Nizar Qabbani
To the general public, Syria has become...
How to Fit Istanbul in One Book: Reşat Ekrem Koçu’s Istanbul...
Do you recall the days when uncle Google was not only a click away? The days when most knowledge was hidden in those big,...