In Bursa, 60-year-old Rıza Akbalış continues his 120-year-old family business, which has been going on for 3 generations, with the excitement of the first day.
Akbalış, who has been continuing his craft since the age of 14 with the tools inherited from his father in his workshop in Abdal District, repairs the finials of many historical mosques in Turkey and exports abroad upon order.
Stating that there is generally a lot of demand from the Balkan countries, Akbalış says that he has been drinking to many countries of the world, especially the Balkan countries.
There is no one to continue his career after him.
Stating that there are only four alem masters left in Turkey, Akbalış noted that there is no one left to continue this profession after him.
He learned how to carouse from his father
Rıza Akbalış, who started working as an apprentice with his father after graduating from school, said:
We have been doing this profession for 3 generations, my grandfather, my father and I, it is a 120-year-old profession. My father took me in as soon as I finished school at the age of 14-15. I received basic education with my father. My grandfather and father have tools in the workshop. I learned a lot from him because he was both my father and my master. Morality is very important in art. Once you get basic training, everything will be great. I continue in this line. It is a profession that is about to disappear.
In Turkey, only 4 people, including me, make it in Samsun, Afyonkarahisar, Kahramanmaraş and Bursa. They are having orgies in Istanbul, but they are orgies. We do our handicraft with a hammer. Unfortunately, there is no one in my family who will do this job after me. I will continue this profession as long as my health allows.
He sent a world to the earthquake zone
Akbalış said that he also prepared a celebration for the demolished historical mosques in Hatay. “We deliver to all parts of Turkey, especially to the Marmara region. We sent a few to Austria, Romania, Germany, Hungary, the Balkan countries and a few to the USA. When the church was canceled, a philanthropist abroad asked for donations to the mosque built instead. So I sent it as a gift without receiving any money. Over time, copper changes color, we lighten its colors. Sometimes they get crooked, we fix them. We deliver it as good as before. 20-25 days ago, a charitable person bought 5 alcoholic beverages for a mosque that collapsed due to an earthquake in Hatay. Destroyed and damaged mosques in earthquake areas are being built and repaired. “When it is completed, we will send 5 more boozes.” he said.
News Source: Ihlas News Agency (IHA)
