Humans of Kurdistan
The "Humans Of Kurdistan" project aims to present the cultural diversity of the country. A look at the faces but also the stories that lie behind each of them.
Humans of Kurdistan - West 08

August 16, 2020

“I came to Qamislo after I finished 9th grade. I worked with a barber here in 1994, his name was Ramazan. I learned the job in four months and stayed with him for a year and a half. I opened my own barbershop in 1996 and still do the same job. My job is now part of my life and I have been doing it for almost 26 years. It used to be more difficult because we used scissors. But today all the barbers use trimmers. This job has a certain originality. Although many new styles and models have come around, I have still preserved the traditional styles especially the ones specific to our culture.During the spread of the Coronavirus, we didn’t work for almost two months. Due to the curfews, our work stopped. So, we had no choice but to work from home according to the safety guidelines and usage of all cleaning supplies”. ...

Humans of Kurdistan - South 104

August 15, 2020

“When I graduated university, I really didn’t like teaching, but it happened that I became a teacher. I remember I was very reluctant on the first day, I was afraid, afraid of not being able to direct my students in a good way, or that I wouldn’t be good in that job. With time, my students’ love made me love my job and pay attention to it. I later overcame that reluctancy and fear. I haven’t seen my students in a while, I miss them”. ...

August 15, 2020

“This is an Assyrian village, and I am Assyrian. Our village used to be huge, but there are only a few families left here now, they all went away to Europe. Some of them visit in the summer. I also went to Germany for work for a while, and later my wife and children joined me. I got quite distressed after a few years. I couldn’t breathe there, I missed my quails, chicken and home. I returned to our village, but my family didn’t return with me, that is why I have been living alone for almost 25 years. I am used to solitude, I visit my friends whenever I feel safe. The people of the village bring me food and drinks, bless them. It is true that I am alone, but I am glad that I live in my own house and village.” ...

Humans of Kurdistan - East 26

August 14, 2020

“Each country celebrates the new year according to their traditions and everyone celebrates it differently. But I believe that each person’s new year is the day they were born and his new year’s celebrations is that same day because that birthday is the start of a new year in his life, meaning that one year is added to his age and experiences and it is an important day.Clearly no one is in charge of when they are born and it is more about a certain calculation of life, but the fact that you are given a small opportunity to live, is a sweet fortune. These days that are my birthday are one of the best moments of my life, I cannot express how happy I am”. ...

Humans of Kurdistan - South 103

August 14, 2020

“I haven’t gone to school for even one second. I have been herding in this wilderness since I opened my eyes. Life is very repetitive, every day is the same for me. I often think that no one has gotten a better use out of phones and social media than me. What assuages me is only my phone. I thank my brothers for teaching me how to use the internet. I cannot read, I recognize the applications through the colors, that is why I always watch funny Tiktok videos on the black application. And whenever I am not in a good mood, I listen to Amanj Yakhi’s Bends, it really calms me down”. ...

Humans of Kurdistan - South 102

August 13, 2020

“I am 21 years’ old, I study architecture at the American University of Duhok. Other than my studies, I also enjoy art, measurements, entrepreneurship, and 3D prints. I enjoy starting from the bottom and building everything by myself. In 2018, I was the founder of the Gans Mor organization for encouraging and developing the youth’s skills with two other activists. And in 2019, I was chosen as the head of the communications committee for students at university.I later thought of starting a company, which is why I established the Qud company for design and printing services for cultural clothing and fashion, to be able to take that business a step further. I never took the easy way out, I have always enjoyed creating and forming things, enjoyed starting from zero, the enjoyment you get out of creating something and taking it to the top”. ...

Humans of Kurdistan - North 08

August 13, 2020

“I don’t know how old I am, my children say I am 114. I haven’t had an ID since I was born, so I don’t know my age. I have forgotten many things, they seem like dreams in my eyes. All I remember is that these streets and neighborhoods did not exist, but they have all become houses and workplaces now. Nothing is the same, everything has changed in the same way that our bodies have changed. I used to be agile in moving around, but now I cannot get up or sit down, I cannot even raise my hands.I stay here until the evening, I see how my life and age pass before my eyes like a movie. Life is as difficult as it is beautiful. People need to live in a way that they know the cost and value of their own lives”. ...

Humans of Kurdistan - South 101

August 12, 2020

"I was 7 when I learned tailoring through my father in Arbat. In 2002, we returned to Penjwen and continued tailoring to get an income through. I love my job, I am thankful that people from most of the cities come to visit me. They have even come from Erbil. In terms of outfits, Penjwen is similar to Meriwan and Bana, especially in the last few years. The difference lies mostly in the sharwal (loose-fitting trousers), the young Rojhalatis tailor their sharwals loose, but they do it tighter here. Rich people used to wear the Muradkhan outfit, but it is now increasing among the youth and they pay attention to it. They would knit their Muradkhan so that it would stand solid, but they use paper now. I work with both, depending on the person’s request, but the knit ones cost more". "There have been changes in men’s clothing compared to previous years. What the youth request and I sew it for them, my father cannot, due to the changes in the form of tailoring, especially in the jacket part. Sometimes people visit us with a special design in their mind and we tailor it that way. There are many types, some use buttons and percussion caps, they ask for half-necked or full- necked. Some ask for designs in the front or back. So, I can say that there are many more designs now and the tailor has to go with the changes”. ...

Humans of Kurdistan - South 100

August 11, 2020

“I remember when I was very young, I was very shy to mix with other children because they would call me the boy with the mismatched eyes!It got to the point that I wanted to quit school to avoid the repetitive questions from my classmates and teachers. But when I got older and saw other people like myself, I was convinced that I am not the only one.I have no problem with my sight, the only thing that annoys me is when people see me for the first time they stare at my eyes, which bothers me a bit. That is why I decided several times to wear lenses so that it looks normal to people, but when some people see me and say Mashalah, it is very unique and beautiful, I regret that decision and want it to stay as it is”. ...

Humans of Kurdistan - East 25

August 11, 2020

“I thought that when my children grow up and start their own families, they would at least be in the same city as me. My sons and daughter-in-laws would be around me and I wouldn’t spend a moment alone, that I will have an even bigger family and there will be warmth in my life, that I would lay back and relax. Today they are each in a different corner of this wide world and I live alone. All our shared memories go back to the pages of old albums and photos.But I give thanks and do not complain that they are safe and have a good life and talk with me”. ...

Humans of Kurdistan - West 07

August 10, 2020

“I started dancing halparke since I was 6. As a child, I used to help my father who was a member of a halparke group. We started out as a group of 5 people at the Afrin community center. We would participate in all events and national celebrations. I was very happy when we would participate in Newroz celebrations, I felt like we are the protectors of our culture against the Syrian Baath party.I really enjoyed folklore halparke and had learned the dances of all the Kurdish regions. I became a halparke dance instructor at 14. One of my best memories is from when I was 12, there was a halparke group that did not accept members under 18, but I participated with them and came in the first place”. ...

Humans of Kurdistan - South 99

August 10, 2020

“My older brother was sick for a while, I was always worried about him and wanted to see him lead life as any other person. Fortunately that day came and not only did he have a healthy body, but he also decided to get married and forget the past. Today there is joy in my heart knowing that my brother is smiling again and that they have created a new life with his partner”. ...