Adem Kekik, a 59-year-old master blacksmith from Düziçi district in Osmaniye, Türkiye, has been forging hot iron for 47 years, a craft he began at age 12. Despite his dedication, Kekik faces the grim reality of his trade fading away, as he cannot find apprentices to pass on his skills.
Kekik works tirelessly, crafting axes, sickles, and other tools by hand, fulfilling orders for local villagers. He laments the decline of traditional iron forging, noting that only a handful of masters remain. He emphasizes that his handmade products, unlike factory-made items, rely on skill and strength, producing superior quality steel tools.
“I’ve been in this profession for 47 years, starting at 12. We make tools like axes and sickles, but we’re among the last few. Without new apprentices, this craft will vanish. Factories can’t match our handmade quality, and the future looks bleak without new talent,” Kekik stated, highlighting the challenges and the importance of preserving this vanishing trade.
Müslüm Balko – Merden İslah