https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/crossing-the-aegean--6041396Hafıza Merkezi and the Legal Centre Lesvos, in collaboration with Community Peacemaker Teams, have joined forces to envision a transnational Aegean that opposes xenophobia, racism, and anti-migrant rhetoric stemming from the concept of national borders.

Our podcast, “Crossing the Aegean,” delves into the 1923 Population Exchange between Greece and Turkey, a landmark event that occurred a century ago.Throughout our podcast series, we’ll feature interviews with academics and activists specializing in the history of exchange, transnational migration, and critical refugee studies. Additionally, we’ll hear from individuals who recount their family’s history of forced migration, allowing them to shape and reconstruct their family narratives. We'll explore how they make sense of their families' forced migration experiences and how it influences their perspectives on refugeeness today. We publish our chapters in three languages: English, Greek and Turkish.

For your questions and comments, please contact us at info@hafiza-merkezi.org. ]]>enSociety & CultureCopyright Hafıza Merkezihttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/1fd30ce06a45b4933a10f561c0c0a511.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/crossing-the-aegean--6041396Thu, 07 Nov 2024 14:30:15 +0000Hafıza MerkeziHafıza Merkeziinfo@hafiza-merkezi.orgHafıza Merkezi and the Legal Centre Lesvos, in collaboration with Community Peacemaker Teams, have joined forces to envision a transnational Aegean that opposes xenophobia, racism, and anti-migrant rhetoric stemming from the concept of national...Hafıza Merkezi and the Legal Centre Lesvos, in collaboration with Community Peacemaker Teams, have joined forces to envision a transnational Aegean that opposes xenophobia, racism, and anti-migrant rhetoric stemming from the concept of national borders.

Our podcast, “Crossing the Aegean,” delves into the 1923 Population Exchange between Greece and Turkey, a landmark event that occurred a century ago.Throughout our podcast series, we’ll feature interviews with academics and activists specializing in the history of exchange, transnational migration, and critical refugee studies. Additionally, we’ll hear from individuals who recount their family’s history of forced migration, allowing them to shape and reconstruct their family narratives. We'll explore how they make sense of their families' forced migration experiences and how it influences their perspectives on refugeeness today. We publish our chapters in three languages: English, Greek and Turkish.

For your questions and comments, please contact us at info@hafiza-merkezi.org. ]]>cleanepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-epilogue-of-a-transnational-podcast-crossing-the-aegean-through-storytelling--62568603Welcome to the final episode of “Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move.” It’s been an incredible journey through 14 episodes, and today, as we wrap up the series, we’d like to offer a reflection on everything we’ve explored and share what we’ve learned along the way.


In this episode, all those who have had a hand in making of the series will tell their stories of making a transnationaş podcast in English, Greek and Turkish: Christina Karvouni, Deniz Uludağ, Noémi Lévy-Aksu, Mert Koçak, Merve Bakdur, Ozan Mirkan Balpetek, Thanos Skourtas, Christina Karvouni, Deniz Uludağ, Noémi Lévy-Aksu, Mert Koçak, Merve Bakdur, Ozan Mirkan Balpetek, Thanos Skourtas, Varvara Christaki and Vicky Aggelidou and Vicky Aggelidou.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. Crossing the Aegean has been a labor of love, and we hope it has sparked reflection on the enduring impact of migration and memory. We encourage you to continue the conversation—whether through sharing your own stories or reflecting on the ones we’ve heard throughout this series. Thank you for listening, and until next time!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62568603Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:14:12 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome to the final episode of “Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move.” It’s been an incredible journey through 14 episodes, and today, as we wrap up the series, we’d like to offer a reflection on everything we’ve explored and share...Welcome to the final episode of “Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move.” It’s been an incredible journey through 14 episodes, and today, as we wrap up the series, we’d like to offer a reflection on everything we’ve explored and share what we’ve learned along the way.


In this episode, all those who have had a hand in making of the series will tell their stories of making a transnationaş podcast in English, Greek and Turkish: Christina Karvouni, Deniz Uludağ, Noémi Lévy-Aksu, Mert Koçak, Merve Bakdur, Ozan Mirkan Balpetek, Thanos Skourtas, Christina Karvouni, Deniz Uludağ, Noémi Lévy-Aksu, Mert Koçak, Merve Bakdur, Ozan Mirkan Balpetek, Thanos Skourtas, Varvara Christaki and Vicky Aggelidou and Vicky Aggelidou.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. Crossing the Aegean has been a labor of love, and we hope it has sparked reflection on the enduring impact of migration and memory. We encourage you to continue the conversation—whether through sharing your own stories or reflecting on the ones we’ve heard throughout this series. Thank you for listening, and until next time!]]>1366cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/we-are-all-migrants-somehow-musical-communities-of-the-exchange-and-the-node-of-mytilini--62458332Welcome to the new episode of our podcast series "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move," where we continue to dive into the musical cartography of the Aegean. In this episode, Maria Seitanidou guides us into the musical communities of Northern Greece, Macedonia, Pontus, and Aegean. Maria Seitanidou is a local musician based in Mytilene, Lesvos, and a primary school teacher. She organizes and teaches traditional singing and dancing, and she also orchestrates traditional choirs.

Maria took us into a journey of music that started for her when she was a child in her hometown, Veria, and the influence of the Pontus communities in the region, followed by her arrival to Lesvos and meeting a community of musicians which she describes as “an entry to a dream”. We talked with her about the role of music in the life of mobile communities, how music travels, and the attempt of a network of musicians in recent years to rebuild and rediscover the music of the larger Aegean geography.

Linking it with migration, Maria talked about how multilingual singing enabled her to understand the “other”, allowing her to discover similarities to celebrate between people. As she describes her connection to Turkey as a Greek, she also mentions how often she witnesses similar feelings among people in Turkey towards Greece.

This episode’s interview was conducted in Greek by Christina Karvouni from Community Peacemaker Teams. Ozan Mirkan Balpetek summarized and interpreted Maria’s remarks in English, and Merve Bakdur from Memory Center provided the same in Turkish.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62458332Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:05:18 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome to the new episode of our podcast series "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move," where we continue to dive into the musical cartography of the Aegean. In this episode, Maria Seitanidou guides us into the musical communities of...Welcome to the new episode of our podcast series "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move," where we continue to dive into the musical cartography of the Aegean. In this episode, Maria Seitanidou guides us into the musical communities of Northern Greece, Macedonia, Pontus, and Aegean. Maria Seitanidou is a local musician based in Mytilene, Lesvos, and a primary school teacher. She organizes and teaches traditional singing and dancing, and she also orchestrates traditional choirs.

Maria took us into a journey of music that started for her when she was a child in her hometown, Veria, and the influence of the Pontus communities in the region, followed by her arrival to Lesvos and meeting a community of musicians which she describes as “an entry to a dream”. We talked with her about the role of music in the life of mobile communities, how music travels, and the attempt of a network of musicians in recent years to rebuild and rediscover the music of the larger Aegean geography.

Linking it with migration, Maria talked about how multilingual singing enabled her to understand the “other”, allowing her to discover similarities to celebrate between people. As she describes her connection to Turkey as a Greek, she also mentions how often she witnesses similar feelings among people in Turkey towards Greece.

This episode’s interview was conducted in Greek by Christina Karvouni from Community Peacemaker Teams. Ozan Mirkan Balpetek summarized and interpreted Maria’s remarks in English, and Merve Bakdur from Memory Center provided the same in Turkish.]]>1126cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sounds-of-migration-music-memory-and-identity-in-the-aegean--62281939Welcome to the new episode of our podcast series "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move," where we explore the historical and contemporary dimensions of migration in the Aegean. In this episode, we continue our exploration of the deep connection between forced migration, memory, and music with our guest, Stelios Moraïtis, a French-Greek PhD student in Social Anthropology.

Stelios is a member of the Migrations and Society Research Unit (URMIS) at the University of Côte d’Azur. He conducted fieldwork for a year and a half in Greece and Turkey, focusing on music and migration. He also completed a Master’s thesis in History, examining the governance of Greek refugees at the end of the Greek-Turkish War and during the population exchange.

In this episode, Stelios discusses how music followed the path of exile. He explains how displaced populations, particularly those from Asia Minor, used music to preserve their cultural heritage, maintain connections to their lost homelands, and forge new cultural identities in their host countries. As refugees fled from Asia Minor to Greece, they brought with them a rich diversity of musical traditions, instruments like the lyra, qanun, and oud, as well as musical systems such as makams. They also introduced rhythms like the hasapiko, zeibekiko, and karsilamas.

Finally, Stelios highlights the Aegean as a vibrant, intercultural space where tradition remains alive and dynamic. Musicians from diverse backgrounds continue to interact, blending their memories, heritage, and personal experiences into their music. The creativity of the people in this region is deeply rooted in their relationship with tradition and memory, as they transform and give new meanings to their cultural practices.

This episode’s interview was conducted in English by Ozan Mirkan Balpetek. Mert Koçak summarized and interpreted Stelios’s remarks in Turkish, and our friends from Community Peacemaker Teams provided the same in Greek.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62281939Tue, 08 Oct 2024 09:31:11 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome to the new episode of our podcast series "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move," where we explore the historical and contemporary dimensions of migration in the Aegean. In this episode, we continue our exploration of the deep...Welcome to the new episode of our podcast series "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move," where we explore the historical and contemporary dimensions of migration in the Aegean. In this episode, we continue our exploration of the deep connection between forced migration, memory, and music with our guest, Stelios Moraïtis, a French-Greek PhD student in Social Anthropology.

Stelios is a member of the Migrations and Society Research Unit (URMIS) at the University of Côte d’Azur. He conducted fieldwork for a year and a half in Greece and Turkey, focusing on music and migration. He also completed a Master’s thesis in History, examining the governance of Greek refugees at the end of the Greek-Turkish War and during the population exchange.

In this episode, Stelios discusses how music followed the path of exile. He explains how displaced populations, particularly those from Asia Minor, used music to preserve their cultural heritage, maintain connections to their lost homelands, and forge new cultural identities in their host countries. As refugees fled from Asia Minor to Greece, they brought with them a rich diversity of musical traditions, instruments like the lyra, qanun, and oud, as well as musical systems such as makams. They also introduced rhythms like the hasapiko, zeibekiko, and karsilamas.

Finally, Stelios highlights the Aegean as a vibrant, intercultural space where tradition remains alive and dynamic. Musicians from diverse backgrounds continue to interact, blending their memories, heritage, and personal experiences into their music. The creativity of the people in this region is deeply rooted in their relationship with tradition and memory, as they transform and give new meanings to their cultural practices.

This episode’s interview was conducted in English by Ozan Mirkan Balpetek. Mert Koçak summarized and interpreted Stelios’s remarks in Turkish, and our friends from Community Peacemaker Teams provided the same in Greek.]]>2095cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/maybe-only-the-walls-know-now-listening-to-migration-s-memory-through-music--62088474Welcome to the new episode of our podcast series “Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move.” In this episode, we continue to explore the impact of the Population Exchange on collective memory through music. The forced migration of 1923 displaced thousands of people from their homes, leaving behind not only material losses but also intergenerational trauma. During this process, music became both a means of expressing the suffering of the displaced and a tool for preserving and reconstructing their identities. We will also share some examples of music from Imbros and the wider Aegean region.

Our guest today is Ezgi Ceylan. Ezgi graduated from Boğaziçi University’s Department of Translation and Interpreting (Translation Studies) and earned her MA in Comparative Literature from Istanbul Bilgi University. After two years as a lecturer at Beykent University, she began working as an English teacher. She has a keen interest in folk music and actively performs. Ezgi is also engaged in memory studies, multilingual music, and ecological agriculture. Currently residing in Imbros, she has been performing multilingual music for many years and has a wide repertoire that includes Greek, Kurdish, Armenian, Arabic, and Ladino.

Don’t forget to follow Ezgi’s YouTube channel, where she performs multilingual songs, as well as her music initiative “Duvarlar Bile Biliyor” (“Even The Walls Know”).

In this episode, Ezgi shares in detail her first encounter with the musical culture of Imbros and the impact of the music she encountered on collective memory. She explains how her visits to the villages of Imbros, the migration stories she witnessed, and the traces she found in abandoned houses have influenced her performances. She also highlights the bonds formed with local musicians such as Timoleon Çaknis and the efforts to preserve the music of Imbros through album projects. Throughout the conversation, she critically examines the deep pain and struggle for identity embedded in the songs from the exchange period. The discussion also touches on how rebetiko music reflects the hardships faced by migrants, including loss of identity and social exclusion. Finally, Ezgi treats the audience to songs from both rebetiko and Imbros, showcasing the unifying role of music in preserving memory.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62088474Tue, 24 Sep 2024 08:56:21 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome to the new episode of our podcast series “Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move.” In this episode, we continue to explore the impact of the Population Exchange on collective memory through music. The forced migration of 1923...Welcome to the new episode of our podcast series “Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move.” In this episode, we continue to explore the impact of the Population Exchange on collective memory through music. The forced migration of 1923 displaced thousands of people from their homes, leaving behind not only material losses but also intergenerational trauma. During this process, music became both a means of expressing the suffering of the displaced and a tool for preserving and reconstructing their identities. We will also share some examples of music from Imbros and the wider Aegean region.

Our guest today is Ezgi Ceylan. Ezgi graduated from Boğaziçi University’s Department of Translation and Interpreting (Translation Studies) and earned her MA in Comparative Literature from Istanbul Bilgi University. After two years as a lecturer at Beykent University, she began working as an English teacher. She has a keen interest in folk music and actively performs. Ezgi is also engaged in memory studies, multilingual music, and ecological agriculture. Currently residing in Imbros, she has been performing multilingual music for many years and has a wide repertoire that includes Greek, Kurdish, Armenian, Arabic, and Ladino.

Don’t forget to follow Ezgi’s YouTube channel, where she performs multilingual songs, as well as her music initiative “Duvarlar Bile Biliyor” (“Even The Walls Know”).

In this episode, Ezgi shares in detail her first encounter with the musical culture of Imbros and the impact of the music she encountered on collective memory. She explains how her visits to the villages of Imbros, the migration stories she witnessed, and the traces she found in abandoned houses have influenced her performances. She also highlights the bonds formed with local musicians such as Timoleon Çaknis and the efforts to preserve the music of Imbros through album projects. Throughout the conversation, she critically examines the deep pain and struggle for identity embedded in the songs from the exchange period. The discussion also touches on how rebetiko music reflects the hardships faced by migrants, including loss of identity and social exclusion. Finally, Ezgi treats the audience to songs from both rebetiko and Imbros, showcasing the unifying role of music in preserving memory.]]>1384cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/stories-from-the-inheritors-of-the-exchange-iv-from-thrace-to-macedonia-and-greece--61321216Welcome back to ‘Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move’, where we explore the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, we explore the memory of the Population Exchange through the perspectives of those with relatives who were part of the exchange. We focus on what it means to carry the legacy of the Exchange in one's lineage and how it influences people’s understanding of migration today. Additionally, we discuss how the Exchange has shaped the heterogeneous identities in the nations of Turkey and Greece.

Today, Christina Karvouni is with us. She studied sociology, social anthropology, and history, and holds a master’s degree in gender studies, where she focused on the effects of the Moria migrant detention center on the lives of women in Moria Village, Lesvos. She currently works with Community Peacemaker Teams in Lesvos, concentrating on the criminalization of migrants and detention centers. Christina has been involved in our podcast series since the beginning, and you may recognize her voice from our Greek recordings.Christina shares the story of how her family’s maternal side migrated from Tekirdağ (Redestos) to Macedonia and then Greece, while her paternal side is part of the Arvanite community in Greece, whose existence predates the Exchange. She reflects on how these two distinct groups have influenced modern Greek national identity. Through her personal experiences, she describes the place of migrants in the lives of settled communities, the social dynamics created by encounters between these groups, and how assimilation policies are applied to minorities and migrants in Greece. She also shares her impressions of the “invisible borders” still drawn through debates such as “Which Thrace, which Macedonia?”

This episode’s interview was conducted in English by Ozan Mirkan Balpetek. Mert Koçak summarized and interpreted Christina’s remarks in Turkish, and our friends from Community Peacemaker Teams provided the same in Greek.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61321216Tue, 10 Sep 2024 08:53:03 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome back to ‘Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move’, where we explore the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, we explore the memory of the Population Exchange through the...Welcome back to ‘Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move’, where we explore the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, we explore the memory of the Population Exchange through the perspectives of those with relatives who were part of the exchange. We focus on what it means to carry the legacy of the Exchange in one's lineage and how it influences people’s understanding of migration today. Additionally, we discuss how the Exchange has shaped the heterogeneous identities in the nations of Turkey and Greece.

Today, Christina Karvouni is with us. She studied sociology, social anthropology, and history, and holds a master’s degree in gender studies, where she focused on the effects of the Moria migrant detention center on the lives of women in Moria Village, Lesvos. She currently works with Community Peacemaker Teams in Lesvos, concentrating on the criminalization of migrants and detention centers. Christina has been involved in our podcast series since the beginning, and you may recognize her voice from our Greek recordings.Christina shares the story of how her family’s maternal side migrated from Tekirdağ (Redestos) to Macedonia and then Greece, while her paternal side is part of the Arvanite community in Greece, whose existence predates the Exchange. She reflects on how these two distinct groups have influenced modern Greek national identity. Through her personal experiences, she describes the place of migrants in the lives of settled communities, the social dynamics created by encounters between these groups, and how assimilation policies are applied to minorities and migrants in Greece. She also shares her impressions of the “invisible borders” still drawn through debates such as “Which Thrace, which Macedonia?”

This episode’s interview was conducted in English by Ozan Mirkan Balpetek. Mert Koçak summarized and interpreted Christina’s remarks in Turkish, and our friends from Community Peacemaker Teams provided the same in Greek.]]>1557cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/stories-from-the-inheritors-of-the-exchange-iii-all-the-food-is-spicy--60933875Welcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we embark on an exploration of the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, once again we will delve into the Exchange, its aftermath, and its memory today by hearing from individuals who have or had relatives involved in the Exchange. We aim to understand and analyze what it means to carry the legacy of the Exchange in one's lineage and how it influences people’s way of relating to migration today.

This week's guest is Vicky Aggelidou, a criminal lawyer currently working with the Legal Centre Lesvos, where she primarily focuses on the cases of criminalized migrants who are systematically jailed under the EU's smuggling laws. Both of Vicky’s grandparents were directly or indirectly affected by the Exchange, with some making several trips between today’s Greece and Turkey to reach their final destination. Vicky shares how present the Turkish language was in her life when she was young, how her memory often recalls the food and smells of her grandparents’ household, and what it means for her to see “history, unfortunately, repeating itself.”

This episode’s interview was conducted by Ozan Mirkan Balpetek in English. Merve Bakdur summarized and interpreted Vicky’s remarks in Turkish and our friends from Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in Greek.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60933875Tue, 06 Aug 2024 06:42:09 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we embark on an exploration of the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, once again we will delve into the Exchange, its...Welcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we embark on an exploration of the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, once again we will delve into the Exchange, its aftermath, and its memory today by hearing from individuals who have or had relatives involved in the Exchange. We aim to understand and analyze what it means to carry the legacy of the Exchange in one's lineage and how it influences people’s way of relating to migration today.

This week's guest is Vicky Aggelidou, a criminal lawyer currently working with the Legal Centre Lesvos, where she primarily focuses on the cases of criminalized migrants who are systematically jailed under the EU's smuggling laws. Both of Vicky’s grandparents were directly or indirectly affected by the Exchange, with some making several trips between today’s Greece and Turkey to reach their final destination. Vicky shares how present the Turkish language was in her life when she was young, how her memory often recalls the food and smells of her grandparents’ household, and what it means for her to see “history, unfortunately, repeating itself.”

This episode’s interview was conducted by Ozan Mirkan Balpetek in English. Merve Bakdur summarized and interpreted Vicky’s remarks in Turkish and our friends from Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in Greek.
]]>1240goc,greece,migration,multeci,refugee,turkiyecleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/different-profiteers-same-migration-route-migration-industries-at-the-aegean--60776518Welcome back to our podcast series, "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move," where we discuss the historical and contemporary impacts of migration in the Aegean region. We continue to talk about the economic changes that the population exchange caused in the region. In the ninth episode, we will focus on how migration has developed into an industry, how this industry has grown over the years, and who has benefited from it.

This week's guest is Mert Koçak, who completed his PhD in 2023 in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology at Central European University. Mert dedicated a significant part of their dissertation, titled “Migration Industries and the Transnational Governance of Queer Migration: The Bureaucratization of Sexuality and Gender in Turkey,” to examining the process through which civil society organizations became part of the migration industry.

Mert explains how a group of actors, by enabling, restricting, and controlling migration, came together to form the migration industry. To demonstrate how these actors have historically shaped migration, they highlight the role of intermediaries in the Trans-Atlantic migration from Europe to America in the 19th century. In the context of the Population Exchange, they provide detailed information about the actors who profited by facilitating the crossing of the Aegean and by seizing abandoned properties. Finally, they discuss the profit-making activities along the contemporary Aegean migration route, showing that while the actors or methods of making profits may have changed over time, the principle of profiting at the expense of migrants has remained the same.

The interview with Mert Koçak was conducted by Ozan Mirkan Balpetek, in both English and Turkish. Our friends from Community Peacemaker Teams also provided a summary and commentary in Greek.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60776518Tue, 23 Jul 2024 12:32:08 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome back to our podcast series, "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move," where we discuss the historical and contemporary impacts of migration in the Aegean region. We continue to talk about the economic changes that the population...Welcome back to our podcast series, "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move," where we discuss the historical and contemporary impacts of migration in the Aegean region. We continue to talk about the economic changes that the population exchange caused in the region. In the ninth episode, we will focus on how migration has developed into an industry, how this industry has grown over the years, and who has benefited from it.

This week's guest is Mert Koçak, who completed his PhD in 2023 in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology at Central European University. Mert dedicated a significant part of their dissertation, titled “Migration Industries and the Transnational Governance of Queer Migration: The Bureaucratization of Sexuality and Gender in Turkey,” to examining the process through which civil society organizations became part of the migration industry.

Mert explains how a group of actors, by enabling, restricting, and controlling migration, came together to form the migration industry. To demonstrate how these actors have historically shaped migration, they highlight the role of intermediaries in the Trans-Atlantic migration from Europe to America in the 19th century. In the context of the Population Exchange, they provide detailed information about the actors who profited by facilitating the crossing of the Aegean and by seizing abandoned properties. Finally, they discuss the profit-making activities along the contemporary Aegean migration route, showing that while the actors or methods of making profits may have changed over time, the principle of profiting at the expense of migrants has remained the same.

The interview with Mert Koçak was conducted by Ozan Mirkan Balpetek, in both English and Turkish. Our friends from Community Peacemaker Teams also provided a summary and commentary in Greek.]]>1917cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-transformation-of-urban-spaces-during-the-population-exchange-migrant-neigbourhoods-of-mytilini--60347456
As a native of Lesvos, Dimitri tells the spatial history of Lesvos through the eyes of both a native and an academic researcher in this field. Her work examines the city's landscape before the population exchange, the impact of the newcomers on the public image, and the step-by-step evolution of this spatiality up to the 1970s. Dimitra tells us about the rise of migrant neighborhoods in Lesvos, their class backgrounds and gender roles, and moreover, how all these factors have spatially transformed Lesvos over the last century. As an islander, she takes a snapshot of urban memory, resistance, and spatiality in Lesvos in the light of the connections between the migrants who came to the island in 2015 and afterwards and the stories she heard from the exchanged population during her research.

Ozan Mirkan Balpetek interviewed Dimitra in English. He also summarized and commented on her episode in Turkish, while Community Peacemakers Teams did the same in Greek. ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60347456Tue, 11 Jun 2024 09:02:59 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome back to our podcast series, "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move"! In our previous episode, before a brief hiatus, we discussed the Greeks of Istanbul and the narratives of those who migrated as well as those who remained. In...
As a native of Lesvos, Dimitri tells the spatial history of Lesvos through the eyes of both a native and an academic researcher in this field. Her work examines the city's landscape before the population exchange, the impact of the newcomers on the public image, and the step-by-step evolution of this spatiality up to the 1970s. Dimitra tells us about the rise of migrant neighborhoods in Lesvos, their class backgrounds and gender roles, and moreover, how all these factors have spatially transformed Lesvos over the last century. As an islander, she takes a snapshot of urban memory, resistance, and spatiality in Lesvos in the light of the connections between the migrants who came to the island in 2015 and afterwards and the stories she heard from the exchanged population during her research.

Ozan Mirkan Balpetek interviewed Dimitra in English. He also summarized and commented on her episode in Turkish, while Community Peacemakers Teams did the same in Greek. ]]>1590cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/echoes-of-the-exchange-greeks-of-istanbul-after-1923--59275846Welcome back to our podcast series "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move"! We continue to talk about the population that were not part of the exchange, but were greatly affected by its nationalist spirit. Last episode we talked about the experiences of the Greeks of Imbros.

In this episode, we host Foti Benlisoy and turn our attention to the Greeks of Istanbul. Foti graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Law. He conducted his graduate and doctoral studies in the history department of Boğaziçi University. He has been working with many publishing houses and journals as a translator and editor for a long time. He is one of the founders of Istos Publishing House. Mert Koçak conducted the interview with Foti in Turkish. Merve Bakdur summarized and commented on the episode in English and Community Peacemaker Teams in Greek. 

Foti opens the discussion by explaining the reasons for the population erosion experienced by the Greeks of Istanbul. It is undeniable that major historical events such as the wealth tax in 1942, the September 6-7 events in 1955, the Greek Exile in 1964, and the invasion of Cyprus in 1974 played a role in the decline of the Greek population. However, Foti underlines that discriminatory practices in everyday life are just as important as these major events. Touching on the consequences of population erosion, Foti explains that Greeks lost their secular and national leaders in this process. After the population exchange, the process of non-religious institutions shaping politics during the Tanzimat period was interrupted and the Patriarchate regained its leadership status. Foti then discusses what it meant for Greeks to be Istanbulite and how they preserved this identity. ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59275846Wed, 03 Apr 2024 12:21:06 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome back to our podcast series "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move"! We continue to talk about the population that were not part of the exchange, but were greatly affected by its nationalist spirit. Last episode we talked about...Welcome back to our podcast series "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move"! We continue to talk about the population that were not part of the exchange, but were greatly affected by its nationalist spirit. Last episode we talked about the experiences of the Greeks of Imbros.

In this episode, we host Foti Benlisoy and turn our attention to the Greeks of Istanbul. Foti graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Law. He conducted his graduate and doctoral studies in the history department of Boğaziçi University. He has been working with many publishing houses and journals as a translator and editor for a long time. He is one of the founders of Istos Publishing House. Mert Koçak conducted the interview with Foti in Turkish. Merve Bakdur summarized and commented on the episode in English and Community Peacemaker Teams in Greek. 

Foti opens the discussion by explaining the reasons for the population erosion experienced by the Greeks of Istanbul. It is undeniable that major historical events such as the wealth tax in 1942, the September 6-7 events in 1955, the Greek Exile in 1964, and the invasion of Cyprus in 1974 played a role in the decline of the Greek population. However, Foti underlines that discriminatory practices in everyday life are just as important as these major events. Touching on the consequences of population erosion, Foti explains that Greeks lost their secular and national leaders in this process. After the population exchange, the process of non-religious institutions shaping politics during the Tanzimat period was interrupted and the Patriarchate regained its leadership status. Foti then discusses what it meant for Greeks to be Istanbulite and how they preserved this identity. ]]>862cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/echoes-of-the-exchange-the-greeks-of-imbros-after-1923--59095856Welcome back to our podcast series, "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move"! In previous episodes, we delved into the stories of those with family histories tied to the exchange. In this episode, we explore the impact on Imbros, a region whose population was not included in the exchange but was profoundly affected by its nationalist fervor.

Our guest for this episode is Stelyo Berber, a musician born in Imbros. After years spent in Athens and Istanbul, he returned to Imbros and now serves as a music teacher and principal at Aya Todori Greek Primary School. Simultaneously, he endeavors to preserve Greek cultural heritage through the Imbros Education and Culture Association. Stelyo was interviewed by Noémi Lévy-Aksu in Turkish. Ozan Mirkan Balpetek summarized and commented on the episode in English and Community Peacemaker Teams in Greek.

Given that the repercussions of the exchange extended beyond the displaced, we broaden our discussion to include areas and individuals indirectly affected. Stelyo sheds light on Imbros' past and present, where the Greek population declined following the exchange. Throughout the 20th century, ongoing migration stemmed largely from state policies and regional political circumstances. Stelyo discusses the challenges faced by departing or forcibly displaced Greeks from Imbros, along with the partial destruction of property and cultural heritage. He also explores how memories of Imbros are preserved and transmitted. Lastly, he shares the motivations, hopes, and concerns of those, like himself, who have returned to Imbros in recent years. ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59095856Tue, 19 Mar 2024 02:50:59 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome back to our podcast series, "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move"! In previous episodes, we delved into the stories of those with family histories tied to the exchange. In this episode, we explore the impact on Imbros, a...Welcome back to our podcast series, "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move"! In previous episodes, we delved into the stories of those with family histories tied to the exchange. In this episode, we explore the impact on Imbros, a region whose population was not included in the exchange but was profoundly affected by its nationalist fervor.

Our guest for this episode is Stelyo Berber, a musician born in Imbros. After years spent in Athens and Istanbul, he returned to Imbros and now serves as a music teacher and principal at Aya Todori Greek Primary School. Simultaneously, he endeavors to preserve Greek cultural heritage through the Imbros Education and Culture Association. Stelyo was interviewed by Noémi Lévy-Aksu in Turkish. Ozan Mirkan Balpetek summarized and commented on the episode in English and Community Peacemaker Teams in Greek.

Given that the repercussions of the exchange extended beyond the displaced, we broaden our discussion to include areas and individuals indirectly affected. Stelyo sheds light on Imbros' past and present, where the Greek population declined following the exchange. Throughout the 20th century, ongoing migration stemmed largely from state policies and regional political circumstances. Stelyo discusses the challenges faced by departing or forcibly displaced Greeks from Imbros, along with the partial destruction of property and cultural heritage. He also explores how memories of Imbros are preserved and transmitted. Lastly, he shares the motivations, hopes, and concerns of those, like himself, who have returned to Imbros in recent years. ]]>1341cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fleeing-the-empire-the-experience-of-armenian-refugees-in-greece--58853368Welcome back to "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move"! We are embarking on another leg of our journey tracing the footsteps of migrants and refugees whose stories have left an indelible mark on the Aegean landscape. In this episode, together with Merih Erol, we explore the Armenians who sought refuge in Greece during the 1920s, following the Armenian Genocide. She was interviewed by Noémi Lévy-Aksu. Ece Koçak summarized and provided commentary on Merih’s episode in Turkish, while Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in Greek.

Merih tells how she became interested in this lesser-explored facet of migration history. We discuss the motivations of the Armenians who migrated to Greece during that era, as well as the myriad challenges they confronted upon arrival. Furthermore, we explore the mutual benefits that historical studies, such as this one, can offer to the field of refugee studies, and vice versa. Lastly, we examine how the memory of this displacement resonates among younger generations of Armenian Greeks, shaping their identities.

A brief remark for future chapters: From this chapter onwards, we will begin to look at communities that were not subject to the exchange agreement, but were affected by the conditions that made the exchange possible. In the following chapters, we will focus on the experience of Greeks from Imbros and Istanbul.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58853368Tue, 27 Feb 2024 17:15:31 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome back to "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move"! We are embarking on another leg of our journey tracing the footsteps of migrants and refugees whose stories have left an indelible mark on the Aegean landscape. In this episode,...Welcome back to "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move"! We are embarking on another leg of our journey tracing the footsteps of migrants and refugees whose stories have left an indelible mark on the Aegean landscape. In this episode, together with Merih Erol, we explore the Armenians who sought refuge in Greece during the 1920s, following the Armenian Genocide. She was interviewed by Noémi Lévy-Aksu. Ece Koçak summarized and provided commentary on Merih’s episode in Turkish, while Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in Greek.

Merih tells how she became interested in this lesser-explored facet of migration history. We discuss the motivations of the Armenians who migrated to Greece during that era, as well as the myriad challenges they confronted upon arrival. Furthermore, we explore the mutual benefits that historical studies, such as this one, can offer to the field of refugee studies, and vice versa. Lastly, we examine how the memory of this displacement resonates among younger generations of Armenian Greeks, shaping their identities.

A brief remark for future chapters: From this chapter onwards, we will begin to look at communities that were not subject to the exchange agreement, but were affected by the conditions that made the exchange possible. In the following chapters, we will focus on the experience of Greeks from Imbros and Istanbul.]]>1087cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/stories-from-the-inheritors-of-the-exchange-ii--58671803Welcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we delve into the historical and contemporary migrations across the Aegean. Here we are with another episode, where we listen to the stories of those with a family history of the exchange. Our guest in this episode is Veli Başyiğit. In this episode, our guest is Veli Başyiğit. Veli, a cultural worker, focuses on social memory, confronting difficult pasts, preserving cultural heritage and disseminating knowledge about these issues in creative ways. The original language of the episode is Turkish. Mert Koçak summarizes and comments on the episode in English, and while Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in Greek.

Veli discusses the various forced migrations his family endured. Some relatives were displaced due to tensions and conflicts in the Aegean region before the First World War, while others had to relocate to Turkey as a result of the population exchange. Veli shares significant narratives highlighting how migrating for different reasons and via different methods can yield varied impacts on the formation of national identity. Veli's grandmother, having arrived in Turkey without the relative legal protection afforded by a migration movement like the population exchange, emphasizes her Turkish identity more strongly. Conversely, his grandfather, a participant in the exchange, maintains his Cretan identity; he does not give up Greek and Greek music. Veli underscores the importance of embracing multiple identities in contrast to the homogenizing efforts of nation-states. He elaborates on how subsequent generations after migration sustain their Cretan identity through various means: engaging with Greek music, learning the language, preparing Cretan cuisine, and visiting Crete… ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58671803Tue, 13 Feb 2024 11:26:21 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we delve into the historical and contemporary migrations across the Aegean. Here we are with another episode, where we listen to the stories of those with a family history...Welcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we delve into the historical and contemporary migrations across the Aegean. Here we are with another episode, where we listen to the stories of those with a family history of the exchange. Our guest in this episode is Veli Başyiğit. In this episode, our guest is Veli Başyiğit. Veli, a cultural worker, focuses on social memory, confronting difficult pasts, preserving cultural heritage and disseminating knowledge about these issues in creative ways. The original language of the episode is Turkish. Mert Koçak summarizes and comments on the episode in English, and while Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in Greek.

Veli discusses the various forced migrations his family endured. Some relatives were displaced due to tensions and conflicts in the Aegean region before the First World War, while others had to relocate to Turkey as a result of the population exchange. Veli shares significant narratives highlighting how migrating for different reasons and via different methods can yield varied impacts on the formation of national identity. Veli's grandmother, having arrived in Turkey without the relative legal protection afforded by a migration movement like the population exchange, emphasizes her Turkish identity more strongly. Conversely, his grandfather, a participant in the exchange, maintains his Cretan identity; he does not give up Greek and Greek music. Veli underscores the importance of embracing multiple identities in contrast to the homogenizing efforts of nation-states. He elaborates on how subsequent generations after migration sustain their Cretan identity through various means: engaging with Greek music, learning the language, preparing Cretan cuisine, and visiting Crete… ]]>733cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/stories-from-the-inheritors-of-the-exchange-i--58500735Welcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we embark on an exploration into the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, we hear about the Exchange, its aftermath, and its memory today through people who have/had relatives within their families who were exchanged. We try to understand how contemporary Greece introduced and historicized the Exchange to the upcoming generations in the last 100 years. Following the footsteps of our previous episode with Emilia Salvanou, we explore how the ripples of the Exchange can still be felt in the current reception of migrants today in Greece.

We are joined by Thanos Skourtas, a local from Lesvos and a member of the Legal Centre Lesvos. He shared with us the stories of his maternal grandparents, how he was introduced to this heritage, why he wasn’t able to learn more, and what relationship he sees with his past and the stories of migrants he is working together with today. Skourtas was kind enough to do the recording in both English and Greek. He was interviewed by Ozan Mirkan Balpetek. Mert Koçak summarized and provided commentary on Skourtas’s story and remarks in Turkish. ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58500735Tue, 30 Jan 2024 13:58:25 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we embark on an exploration into the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, we hear about the Exchange, its aftermath, and...Welcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we embark on an exploration into the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, we hear about the Exchange, its aftermath, and its memory today through people who have/had relatives within their families who were exchanged. We try to understand how contemporary Greece introduced and historicized the Exchange to the upcoming generations in the last 100 years. Following the footsteps of our previous episode with Emilia Salvanou, we explore how the ripples of the Exchange can still be felt in the current reception of migrants today in Greece.

We are joined by Thanos Skourtas, a local from Lesvos and a member of the Legal Centre Lesvos. He shared with us the stories of his maternal grandparents, how he was introduced to this heritage, why he wasn’t able to learn more, and what relationship he sees with his past and the stories of migrants he is working together with today. Skourtas was kind enough to do the recording in both English and Greek. He was interviewed by Ozan Mirkan Balpetek. Mert Koçak summarized and provided commentary on Skourtas’s story and remarks in Turkish. ]]>1426cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-they-left-and-returned-the-past-and-present-of-the-population-exchange--58317261Welcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we embark on an exploration into the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, we bring forth the experience of refugees in the 1920s after the Population Exchange. We shed light on their arduous journey upon arrival in Greece, showcasing their resilience in confronting challenges and forging new lives. Additionally, we explore the parallels between the experiences of these exchange communities and the contemporary struggles of asylum seekers, examining themes of otherness, exclusion, and the social cohesion difficulties they face today.

Our guest for today’s episode is Emilia Salvanou, who is interviewed by Noémi Lévy-Aksu. Since the main language of the episode is English, Merve Bakdur summarized and provided commentary on Salvanou's insights in Turkish, while Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in Greek.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58317261Tue, 16 Jan 2024 08:59:55 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we embark on an exploration into the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, we bring forth the experience of refugees in the...Welcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we embark on an exploration into the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, we bring forth the experience of refugees in the 1920s after the Population Exchange. We shed light on their arduous journey upon arrival in Greece, showcasing their resilience in confronting challenges and forging new lives. Additionally, we explore the parallels between the experiences of these exchange communities and the contemporary struggles of asylum seekers, examining themes of otherness, exclusion, and the social cohesion difficulties they face today.

Our guest for today’s episode is Emilia Salvanou, who is interviewed by Noémi Lévy-Aksu. Since the main language of the episode is English, Merve Bakdur summarized and provided commentary on Salvanou's insights in Turkish, while Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in Greek.]]>1468cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-century-old-topic-the-meaning-and-aftermath-of-the-population-exchange--58170096Welcome to the first episode of the “Crossing the Aegean” series! In this episode, we’re exploring the history of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in depth with historian Noémi Lévy-Aksu. We start by looking at how the communities involved in the exchange were chosen and then look into the social and cultural impact this exchange had on both sides of the Aegean.

Our guest for this episode is Noémi Lévy-Aksu. She is interviewed by Mert Koçak. Since the main language of the episode is English, Merve Bakdur summarized and provided commentary on Lévy-Aksu's insights in Turkish, while our friends from Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in Greek. ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58170096Tue, 02 Jan 2024 09:46:46 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome to the first episode of the “Crossing the Aegean” series! In this episode, we’re exploring the history of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in depth with historian Noémi Lévy-Aksu. We start by looking at how the communities...Welcome to the first episode of the “Crossing the Aegean” series! In this episode, we’re exploring the history of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in depth with historian Noémi Lévy-Aksu. We start by looking at how the communities involved in the exchange were chosen and then look into the social and cultural impact this exchange had on both sides of the Aegean.

Our guest for this episode is Noémi Lévy-Aksu. She is interviewed by Mert Koçak. Since the main language of the episode is English, Merve Bakdur summarized and provided commentary on Lévy-Aksu's insights in Turkish, while our friends from Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in Greek. ]]>1277greece,lausanne,refugee,turkeycleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/crossing-the-aegean-a-century-of-people-on-the-move--58057965Welcome to the intro episode of our podcast series! The aim of this episode is to provide our listeners with comprehensive background information on the 1923 Population Exchange between Greece and Turkey, which took place 100 years ago.

First of all, we will explain the historical and political developments that led to the exchange and how the exchange took place. Afterwards, we will talk about how religion-based national identity came to the fore in the exchange process, where the prerequisite for Turkishness was to believe in Sunni Islam, while the prerequisite for Greekness was to believe in Orthodox Christianity. Finally, we will briefly describe the migration policies that both countries implemented for 100 years in order to remain loyal to religion-based national identity.

For your questions and comments about the episode, please contact us at info@hafiza-merkezi.org. ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58057965Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:59:06 +0000Hafıza MerkeziWelcome to the intro episode of our podcast series! The aim of this episode is to provide our listeners with comprehensive background information on the 1923 Population Exchange between Greece and Turkey, which took place 100 years ago. First of all,...Welcome to the intro episode of our podcast series! The aim of this episode is to provide our listeners with comprehensive background information on the 1923 Population Exchange between Greece and Turkey, which took place 100 years ago.

First of all, we will explain the historical and political developments that led to the exchange and how the exchange took place. Afterwards, we will talk about how religion-based national identity came to the fore in the exchange process, where the prerequisite for Turkishness was to believe in Sunni Islam, while the prerequisite for Greekness was to believe in Orthodox Christianity. Finally, we will briefly describe the migration policies that both countries implemented for 100 years in order to remain loyal to religion-based national identity.

For your questions and comments about the episode, please contact us at info@hafiza-merkezi.org. ]]>1059aegean,history,memory,migration,refugeeclean11trailer