Nazike Gündüz preserves Turkish heritage through kitre dolls

Nazike Gündüz, a 60-year-old artisan in Akşehir, is working to preserve the traditional Turkish craft of making kitre dolls. Recognized as a ‘Bearer of Intangible Cultural Heritage’ by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Gündüz uses wire, cotton, and kitre (a plant-based gum) to create human figures.

Her works often depict the famous folk tales of Nasrettin Hoca, including stories such as ‘Ye Kürküm Ye’ and ‘Göle Maya Çalıyor’. Beyond storytelling, Gündüz uses the dolls to showcase the traditional regional clothing of Akşehir.

The creation process is labor-intensive, with a single composition sometimes taking up to ten days to complete. To ensure the craft is passed to future generations, Gündüz provides training at the Akşehir Public Education Center and offers courses to interested students.