KULOGLU TURKS

Kuloğlu Turks is a term used to describe people born to Turkish men and Berber women, living in the western and central coastal regions (Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia) on the Ottoman Berber coast. While this term was widely used in Ottoman Algeria, Ottoman Libya and Ottoman Tunisia, it was not used for Egyptian Turks in Egypt. Today, the descendants of Kuloğulları have largely integrated among local communities after independence, but still retain some of their cultural traditions; they also continue to live in the Hanafi sect (unlike other North Africans who espouse the Maliki sect) and still use their Turkish origin surnames.

During the 300 years of Ottoman rule in the Maghreb and in North Africa in general, Turkish soldiers stationed in the region by the Ottoman administration comprised at least 5% of the region s population. Anatolian Turks were considered ideal immigrants to ensure the Turkification of the region. In addition, the authorities prohibited the Turkish-speaking population from speaking Arabic; This situation ensured that Turkish remained one of the respected languages ​​used in the region until the 19th century.

Kuloğlu Turks were not only men. Turkish-speaking Anatolian women also migrated to the region. In addition, the daughters of Turkish men and North African women were Kuloğlu Turks. Until the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, upper-class women in Algeria, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia were mostly of Turkish origin.

Most of the Turkish-speaking Ottoman Muslims adhered to the Hanafi Sect, unlike the North African peoples who adopted the Maliki Sect. Today, the descendants of Turkish families still living in the region have also adopted the Hanafi school. Traditionally, their mosques are in the Ottoman architectural style and there are especially Turkish-style octagonal minarets.

In North Africa, many words are used from Turkish to languages ​​spoken in the region. For example, approximately 634 Turkish words are used in Algeria, one of the Arabic-speaking Maghreb countries. Between 200 and 500 Turkish words are used in Egyptian Arabic, and approximately 800 to 1,500 Turkish words are used in Libyan and Tunisian Arabic. Moroccan Arabic, on the other hand, did not borrow any words from Turkish. The Ottomans have never been effective in this country. But the Turks there added the words they learned in the region to Ottoman Turkish and Persian. Most of the Arabic words in Turkish are used in private life and in official state terms.

As of today (2022), the assumed population of Kuloğlu Turks is as follows:
LIBYA: 1.400.000
ALGERIA: 2,000,000
TUNISIA: 2,000,000
EGYPT: 1,500,000