Dervish during Sema at Yaqup Baba of Fatih, Istanbul, TURKEY - 18/12/2016. In Istanbul’s neighbourhood of Fatih, Yakup Koyuncu, known as Yakup Baba (


Dervish during Sema at Yaqup Baba of Fatih, Istanbul, TURKEY - 18/12/2016. In Istanbul’s neighbourhood of Fatih, Yakup Koyuncu, known as Yakup Baba (an honorific name meaning father) owns a building in which dervishes belonging to the Helvati Sufi sect gather. Every night in the basement, a Sema is held where dervishes whirl under the guidance of Yakup Baba. This is a very discrete building only known by people in the neighbourhood, where a community of dervishes live and are hosted by Yaqup Baba. On the top floor, Yakup Baba invites dervishes and visitors to dinner and everyone who wishes to stay can be accommodated there. It is a privilege and honour to be welcome by the spiritual leader of the Sufi sect and to be able to shoot the ceremony.


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Photo credit: © François-Olivier Dommergues / Alamy / Afripics
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