Listen, Read, Watch: Iraq

During our much-needed winter break, we published a series of curated #ListenReadWatch over on our Instagram. Every post offered one album to listen to, a book to read, and a film to watch from somewhere in the Arab world. We envisioned this series as a way to celebrate some of the best creative minds from across the region and times.

Listen:
Manbarani, Natik Awayez

Natik Awayez is a lyricist, composer and oud player from Southern Iraq. Sublime Frequencies describes this album as “unique contemporary Arabic folk music sounding unfrozen and released from another time.”

Al Soor (Al-Jumhuriya Bridge) and Al Teeh (The Exodus) are staff favorites!

Read:
Revolt Against the Sun, Nizak al-Mala’ika

Nazik al-Mala’ika has been described as one of the most important Arab poets of the 20th century. She was one of the pioneers of free verse Arabic poetry. This collection offers a sample of her work in English for the very first time (via Saqi Books).

Watch:
Our River… Our Sky

Maysoon Pachachi’s 2021 film is set in a small Baghdad community in 2006 against the backdrop of intense sectarian war. Check out our interview with Pachachi here.