Kemal Etçi, a 54-year-old blacksmith in Kilis, Türkiye, has been forging hot iron for 30 years, continuing the traditional craft he learned from his father. Despite his dedication, the art of iron forging is nearing extinction due to a lack of apprentices.
Etçi shapes tools like axes and sickles by hand for villagers, but laments that he is one of the last two masters in the city. “I’ve trained and supported my family with this craft, but young people today avoid such demanding work,” he said, adding that he may only be able to continue for another decade. Without new apprentices, the centuries-old profession faces an uncertain future.
Okan Genç