Nestled in the vast Anatolian plateau lies Kalfat in Çankırı, a quaint Turkish village. This unassuming spot, a considerable distance from the bustling streets of Westminster, surprisingly holds a deep connection to the UK’s political scene. Kalfat proudly considers itself as the ancestral origin of Boris Johnson, the notable UK politician.
Mr. Johnson’s association with the village, situated approximately 110 km from Ankara, has been the talk of the town since his tenure as London’s mayor in 2008. Satilmis Karatekin, a 65-year-old inhabitant who believes he is related to Johnson, remarked, “In our eyes, he’s a Turk from Kalfat. He’s family.”
Boris Johnson meeting Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Interestingly, locals recall that Kalfat once had several inhabitants with Johnson’s distinctive blonde hair. This trait, however, gradually disappeared as the elderly passed away and the younger generation migrated to cities. The village’s graveyard offers evidence of this, with several tombstones featuring the word “sari“, the Turkish term for blonde. Johnson’s ancestors’ graves, however, stand in a state of neglect.
While Johnson’s Turkish lineage gained prominence through a TV documentary during his mayoral days, many wrongly attributed his blonde hair to European ancestors. In reality, the diverse looks of the Turks, influenced by the vast Ottoman Empire’s history, could be the root of his fair hair.
Contrary to some claims suggesting that Johnson’s blonde trait came from a Circassian ancestor, Kalfat’s locals refute such stories. Bayram Tavukcu, the village leader, finds these tales implausible, especially given the once prevalent blonde hair in the village.
Çankırı is a typical middle-Anatolian province
Tracing back four generations, Johnson’s forefather, Haci Ahmet Riza Efendi, transitioned from Kalfat to Istanbul in the late 1800s. His lineage subsequently embraced international connections, with Ali Kemal, Johnson’s great-grandfather, playing multiple roles – journalist, diplomat, and a short stint in the Ottoman Empire’s last governance.
Despite facing political turmoil and personal tragedies, the family’s legacy continued to flourish, leading to Boris Johnson’s birth in the UK. Regardless of some controversial political stances taken by Johnson, Kalfat’s locals hold him in high esteem.
Omer Karaagac, an ex-district mayor, met Johnson’s father over a decade ago and wishes for Boris’s visit. “Regardless of politics, our affection for Boris remains unchanged,” he stated.
Yet, not everyone in the village is familiar with Johnson. Guler Onay, 92, expressed her wish for assistance from the village’s renowned descendant in rejuvenating Kalfat, which has seen its population dwindle over the years.
Some, like shopkeeper Musa Sekerci, are wary of Johnson’s possible ascent to UK’s prime ministership, fearing it might strain UK-Turkey relations given some of his past comments.
Despite these apprehensions, Kalfat remains largely supportive. Ibrahim Aksu humorously suggests, “Once he’s done in England, he could lead us. We might even restore his ancestral home for him.“
