Foreign performances bring much-needed joy to Halabja town
Dance troupes and musical acts of varying nations from around the world entertain residents in the Region for a five fun-filled days.
More than 15,000 people, most of them young men, sat on the Sherwana Palace stairs in Kalar, impatiently waiting for dance and musical performances of 14 different nations.
As performers took to the platform to present their cultures, the audience excitedly whistled and applauded. For many, it was the first time to see such a cultural display. Spectators used their mobile phones to film Brazilian sambas, Dabka (an Iraqi Arab folklore dance), and Egyptian belly dances.
Kalar is in the heart of Garmyan, located 150 kilometers south of Suleimaniya city. In the 1980s, Garmyan was the center of Saddam Hussein’s Anfal Campaign that killed more than 182,000 people and destroyed over 4,000 villages. Kalar hosted the opening of the five-day Festival of Nations Culture in Kurdistan Region on November 2; 14 nations participated, including but not limited to Brazil, Iran, Sweden, Poland, Egypt, Slovakia, Bolivia, Croatia, and Iraq--including different Kurdish traditional dancing groups. Many Kurdish cities and towns hosted events, except Duhok province due to time and budget issues.
The festival started in Garmyan, where multi-cultural dancers and musicians played and danced on the streets; thousands of people watched. “We were happy that Garmyan hosted the festival because this area has not seen a lot of cultural activities in the past,” said Umed Sadullah, head of the Garmyan Culture Directorate. “When Garmyan areas are mentioned in the media, it’s usually because of sad stories about Anfal. This time it was different. It was about dancing and singing,” added Sadullah.
On day four, the festival went to Suleimaniya city and Halabja town, the town the Iraqi army of Saddam Hussein attacked with chemical weapons. On the last day, the nations came to Erbil city, capital of Kurdistan Region, and performed colorful dances in public parks and halls. “We want to introduce the Kurdish culture to the outside world. Moreover, Kurdistan wants to become a bridge between nations’ cultures,” said Kawa Mahmud, Minister of Kurdistan Region Ministry of Culture.
Sami Atroushi, representative of Iraqi Ministry of Culture, said that through such festivals, Iraq wants to show to the world that Iraq is not what they see on TV. “They [other nations] think Iraq is all about terror and violence; we want to show them that in Iraq there is a place for happiness and music.”
Garmyan youth needs more attention
A young journalist, Dana Najat, in the Garmyan area said that youths in Garmyan face a desperate state of living and need great attention from the Kurdistan Regional Government. “There is a lack of entrainment in the Garmyan area. There are no nice parks, libraries, or nice places in the area for youths to gather and have fun,” said Najat. “The government should bring life to the area by building nice parks and sports fields, and hold cultural activities.”
The Garmyan area is less developed compared to other Kurdistan Region areas. During Saddam Hussein’s rule, Garmyan villages were almost wiped out and the area was neglected for decades. The Kurdistan government began rebuilding that area in 2003, but residents there say the KRG has not done enough.
More than 15,000 people, most of them young men, sat on the Sherwana Palace stairs in Kalar, impatiently waiting for dance and musical performances of 14 different nations.
As performers took to the platform to present their cultures, the audience excitedly whistled and applauded. For many, it was the first time to see such a cultural display. Spectators used their mobile phones to film Brazilian sambas, Dabka (an Iraqi Arab folklore dance), and Egyptian belly dances.
Kalar is in the heart of Garmyan, located 150 kilometers south of Suleimaniya city. In the 1980s, Garmyan was the center of Saddam Hussein’s Anfal Campaign that killed more than 182,000 people and destroyed over 4,000 villages. Kalar hosted the opening of the five-day Festival of Nations Culture in Kurdistan Region on November 2; 14 nations participated, including but not limited to Brazil, Iran, Sweden, Poland, Egypt, Slovakia, Bolivia, Croatia, and Iraq--including different Kurdish traditional dancing groups. Many Kurdish cities and towns hosted events, except Duhok province due to time and budget issues.
The festival started in Garmyan, where multi-cultural dancers and musicians played and danced on the streets; thousands of people watched. “We were happy that Garmyan hosted the festival because this area has not seen a lot of cultural activities in the past,” said Umed Sadullah, head of the Garmyan Culture Directorate. “When Garmyan areas are mentioned in the media, it’s usually because of sad stories about Anfal. This time it was different. It was about dancing and singing,” added Sadullah.
On day four, the festival went to Suleimaniya city and Halabja town, the town the Iraqi army of Saddam Hussein attacked with chemical weapons. On the last day, the nations came to Erbil city, capital of Kurdistan Region, and performed colorful dances in public parks and halls. “We want to introduce the Kurdish culture to the outside world. Moreover, Kurdistan wants to become a bridge between nations’ cultures,” said Kawa Mahmud, Minister of Kurdistan Region Ministry of Culture.
Sami Atroushi, representative of Iraqi Ministry of Culture, said that through such festivals, Iraq wants to show to the world that Iraq is not what they see on TV. “They [other nations] think Iraq is all about terror and violence; we want to show them that in Iraq there is a place for happiness and music.”
Garmyan youth needs more attention
A young journalist, Dana Najat, in the Garmyan area said that youths in Garmyan face a desperate state of living and need great attention from the Kurdistan Regional Government. “There is a lack of entrainment in the Garmyan area. There are no nice parks, libraries, or nice places in the area for youths to gather and have fun,” said Najat. “The government should bring life to the area by building nice parks and sports fields, and hold cultural activities.”
The Garmyan area is less developed compared to other Kurdistan Region areas. During Saddam Hussein’s rule, Garmyan villages were almost wiped out and the area was neglected for decades. The Kurdistan government began rebuilding that area in 2003, but residents there say the KRG has not done enough.
