The first time I came here the old centre was crowded with craftsmen. Now much of it is more like a large market place. Many of the goods will be imported from countries with even cheaper labour, and the hand-labourers have largely moved to the edge of town, where the rents are lower.

In the centre is a nice square that has the atmosphere I wished had lingered some more. On it a group of musicians was rehearsing, or just making fun. One acted like a director, a teacher almost, firing them on.

The instrument is a ‘cümbüş’, a metal string instrument resembling the American banjo.
It was developed in 1930 by Zeynel Abidin Cümbüş (1881–1947) as an oud-like instrument that could be heard as part of a larger ensemble.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: The Kavak (Anatolian Folklorist) Dance Group, Antwerpen/Belgium & Wikipedia.