Breezes of Turkish Language and Turkish Culture at Harar Maarif Schools

June 15, 2026

Harar International Maarif School, which has been carrying out educational activities in Ethiopia for seven years under Turkish Maarif Foundation, keeps interest in Turkish language and Turkish culture alive, also thanks to the deep-rooted historical ties in the Harar region. Nourished by the city’s historical fabric and deep bonds, Harar Maarif School offers multilingual education in Turkish and English, in addition to local languages, to a total of 641 students from preschool to high school.

Standing out not only with its academic courses but also with its social, cultural and sports activities, Harar Maarif School prepares its students for university life and the future in a well-rounded manner. Sharing his assessments on the school’s educational processes, School Principal Bayram Ali Kocakafa stated that they provide education in Turkish and English alongside local languages such as Amharic, Afan Oromo and Harari. Kocakafa noted that academic studies are supported by rich club activities such as traditional Turkish archery, Turkish cuisine, Turkish debate, photography and visual arts. He also emphasized that Harar’s social structure lies behind students’ strong interest in Turkish and their ability to learn the language with ease, adding that the resonance Turkish has found in this distant geography is a great source of motivation for educators.

A Center of Ancient Bonds: Harar’s Importance for the Ottoman Empire and Türkiye

In addition to being one of the farthest points reached by the Ottoman Empire in East Africa, Harar constitutes one of the most concrete centers of Türkiye’s historical and cultural ties with the African continent. This historic city, which came under Ottoman administration in the late 19th century and became one of the most important strongholds of Islam in the region, carries a deep-rooted heritage into the present day through its architectural works and cultural fabric.