Mosul Ghabat Park
Mosul Maqam Festival 2024
Sep 27, 2024
The Mosul Maqam Festival, held on September 27th 2024 in Mosul Ghabat park overlooking the Tigris, marks a historic celebration of resilience and cultural revival. It is the first festival of its kind in the city, dedicated to reviving Mosul’s ancient Iraqi Maqam music, which has faced threats of extinction due to decades of war and occupation. The event will feature traditional Maqam performances by masters Ramiz al-Rawi and Fakhri Fadhil, as well as innovative collaborations between Amir El-Saffar and young talented Mosuli musicians and Maqam reciters from various genres, including jazz. Organized by a project supported by the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund, the festival highlights community efforts to safeguard and celebrate Mosul’s rich musical heritage, showcasing the talent and spirit of its people as they rebuild their city and culture. Mosul Forest is home to beloved recreational spaces on the city’s left bank. Once used by ISIS to train fighters and recruit children, it celebrated Mosul’s resilience and Mosulis’ commitment to bringing the city back to life. A special highlight at the festival was the attendance of the renowned Iraqi Maqam reader and Iraq Idol, Mohammed Sajad.
Composer, trumpeter, santur player, and Maqam reciter
Darwish, a vocalist from the Sinoun area in Shingal, incorporates the distinctive Ezidi oral traditions into his performances and artistic work.
Young Maqam receiver from Mosul and Water Orchestra and Nahawand Band member.
Salman plays the tambour (buzq) and is a member of the Hardem music group at the Mirzo Institute of Music in Shingal. The Ezidi oral traditions, passed down for centuries, inspire Salman.
Khalid is an Oud player from Mosul and a member of Band Jideed
Firas Nabil is an Institute of Fine Arts alumnus at Mosul University. He is a member of the Watar Orchestra, where he plays the bass guitar.
Mirna Amer Shimoun, born on April 9, 2006, is a sixth-grade student. She plays the cello and is a member of the Kanara Orchestra and the Strings band.
Orhan plays the ney and saz and is a member of several Iraqi musical groups, most notably the Watar Orchestra. He teaches saz and ney at the Sustainable Peace Foundation and leads its affiliated band, Qalita. The Turkmen Maqams and folk music inspire his music.
Tara is a sixth-grade student. She plays the violin and is a Kanara Orchestra and the Strings band member. She has participated in various artistic events and church services.
Anasi is a vocalist from Mosul, and has participated in the Mosul Maqam classes at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Mosul.
Mustafa plays guitar and clarinet and holds a diploma in Anesthesia Technology. He is also a member of the band Jideed.
Nashwan is a Qanun player and holds a Bachelor's degree in music. He was trained by the composer and musician Cengiz Ercan in Turkey. He is a Member of the Watar Orchestra and the Mosul Artists' Syndicate.
Noor al-Din Mahmoud is a high school student who plays the Riq and drums with the Watar Orchestra and the Nota Khana Band. He started his artistic journey in 2022.
Namir holds a Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Mosul. He has participated in the Mosul Maqam classes with Ustaz Ramiz al-Rawi.
Ramiz is a Mosuli Maqam reciter and expert. He leads the Mosul Heritage Band and teaches Maqam. He trained more than 40 young students in the Mosul Maqam classes at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Mosul.
Talal is a musician, composer. He plays oud and violin. He has participated in various local, regional, and international festivals, receiving multiple awards and certificates from the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, the Music Arts Directorate, and the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. Talal is also member of the Osman Al-Mosuli Band.
Mustafa, a student at the College of Fine Arts, Mosul University, has been playing the oud since age five. He has won first place twice in the University of Mosul's Creativity Competition and participated in several festivals, including Expo Dubai 2020.
Fakhri Fadhill is a Mosuli Maqam reciter and folk singer. He began his singing career in the early 1980s with several music bands in Mosul. He joined the Iraqi Maqam House since its establishment, where he served as director until his retirement in 2016. After retiring, he worked as the director of the Advisory Committee for Culture and Arts and was a member of the board of the Artists’ Syndicate in Mosul for three terms, where he was responsible for the musical department. He participated in local and international festivals, including the first Al-Qabbanji Festival in Sulaymaniyah in 2007, the first Mulla Othman Festival in Erbil in 2010.
Abass Fadel, known as Abbas Dana, began his artistic journey as a percussionist in 1978 at the Youth Centre in Mosul under the guidance of Professor Taha Haddad. He has participated in several festivals, including the Spring and Babylon Festival.
A well-known Iraqi Maqam reciter who was selected as the Iraq Idol in 2022.