Σάββατο 23 Δεκεμβρίου 2017

The Greek philanthropist of Khartoum

(Excerpt from the book ‘The Greek community in Sudan’)



Katarina Kakou was born in Suakin in 1893.Her father immigrated to Sudan in the late 19th century. At the age of 19, Katerina got married to Alexander Papadellis and had eight kids. Her husband died at an early age and Katerina had great difficulties in raising her kids. She used to sell several things in front of her house such as fruits, peanuts, cooked beans (fulia) to earn her living. Although she was poor she was giving help to anyone needed. Lots of people living in the neighborhood visited her in order to take a free meal. Katerina used to be a reference point for the entire region, till her death in 1983. For this reason, the street in front of her house was named ‘Katarina Street’.