What is "MammaLiTurki!" ?

"MammaLiTurki!" is a multimedia project by Dj Nio where Music, Photography, Video and Graphic Design meet in a unique blend to speak about a different Istanbul, a different Turkey. 

"MammaLiTurki!" is a photo-book, a series of records and a documentary.

What does "MammaLiTurki!" mean?

“Mamma, li Turchi!” is an old Italian expression and saying that, literally translated means: “Mom! The Turks!!”. It’s an ancient saying that is still popular in Italy to this day. 
It originates back into the Ottoman times during raids of Italian coasts, where young women were kidnapped and where cities were set on fire. The expression “MammaLiTurki!” represents the fear of the Turks and for the Muslims in general.

How did this project start?

Everything started from terrorist threats and... a mother. "I've been living in Istanbul for a year and half at the peak of the bombings and any kind of social tension, probably one of the worst moments in the whole history of Turkey" - Nio explains -, “and my mom was really worried for my own life. But despite all the crazy things that were going on around the country that I chose as a temporary home, I was totally and completely in love with Istanbul, with Turkish culture and Turkish people. 

That’s why I've been taking a lot of photos around and sending them to my mother in Italy to explain to her that life in Turkey was not as bad as many international medias were always repeating all the time everywhere. Despite of all the terrorists attacks, the killings, the blood and the crazy situations, even despite being arrested by mistake during the coup, I've been showing a different reality to her and to my family, made by very normal and cool people that are working, eating, sleeping and trying to live peacefully like everyone else on earth.

“Turkophobia” has deep and ancient roots in my country. With "MammaLiTurki!" I hope to blow this fear away a bit, at least”.

Follow @Mamma.Li.turki on Instagram