2019 – 2020:

This project seeks to revive and bring to public attention the diversity of musical practice of Mosul, its surroundings, and of Iraq more generally, most of which originated or are present in the Nineva governorate.

This part of Iraq is home to many religious, cultural and ethnic minorities such as Turkmans, Kurds, Chaldeans, Shabak, Catholic Christians and many more. Each of these minorities have their specific songs and music forms, and even musical instruments which they are associated with. These diverse musical practices are historically connected but are also different from one another. Highlighting and celebrating this richness would contribute to creating social cohesion, as well as to recreating the vitality of the arts scene in Mosul and in Iraq in general.

The project consisted of:

•       A research trip that identified 10 different types of traditional music in 12 locations that the research team would survey and record. As a conclusion of this task a video “Long Live the Music” was produced: Link for the long live the music video
•       The second step of the project was a seminar on traditional and folk music from Nineveh that was held between November 25 and 28, 2021 in Erbil and it was attended by eight music experts.

The seminar concluded with a music concert in Khan Hammou El Kaddou in Mosul, which was attended by 110 people. 

•       The third step of the first phase of the project was a workshop attended by 13 young musicians for eight days and was led by Experts in the participants were mentored on four different types of music: Rural Heritage, Turkmani heritage, Assyrian Christian Heritage and Mosul Heritage. 

The workshop concluded with a concert on December 8th in Khan el Gomrok in Mosul, which was attended by over 200 people.

2021 – 2022:

Research and mapping of diverse musical practices.