African neighborhood in Esenyurt Istanbul

The famous Esenyurt Istanbul district is one of the well-known areas of Istanbul, located in the European section of the city; in its northern part to be specific. It is bordered on the south by the Avcilar and Beylikduzu regions and the E-5 highway. It overlooks Kucukcekmece Lake on the east, and on its western side lies the Buyukcekmece Lake. It’s bordered on the north by Bahcesehir and Arnavutkoy and the TEM highway. It is located about 35 km away from the “Al-Fatih” city center.

Istanbul is known as a city in which social classes and cultures vary with the variety of its regions, and Esenyurt Istanbul is among its distinctive regions, for it represents a significant part of Istanbul’s middle-class culture, and yet it is as most of Istanbul regions within the infrastructure development plan that includes all Turkish land, especially Istanbul.

Selahaddin Eyyübi, another neighborhood in the district, also stands out as a settlement where low-income citizens and African immigrants live.

Saying that the number of Africans in the area has increased rapidly in the last two to three years, the district head (muhtar) of the neighborhood, noted that what makes the neighborhood more popular among them is the low rent prices.

“Most of the Africans moved here from Fatih. They have their own associations as well as shops,” he added.

The more affluent buildings of Cumhuriyet neighborhood are mostly preferred by Iranians, and there are only Iranian and Afghan shops in one part of the neighborhood.

Many of the Koza neighborhood’s residents are Arabs. A majority of the properties in Koza is owned by Saudi Arabians and Kuwaitis.

Nigerians and Ugandans are also among the immigrant residents of Koza. Ugandans have been able to establish a foothold in the neighborhood, where they also have nightclubs. Parties are often held at a venue where the “Miss Uganda” beauty contest is also organized.