Humans of South - Humans of Kurdistan

“In the 80s, when the school in our village closed down, we couldn’t travel for hours on foot to attend the school in the city. Consequently, I dropped out of school in fifth grade. I started helping my father in Chia Sumac, we picked apples, and our livelihood depended on these products. I got older and became a stonecutter in the early 2000s, and we were building houses. From then, my life blended with hammers and stones. Now, if I only look at the stone, I know if it will be useful for building or not. My work is tough, and I work eight hours daily; I suffer during the night because of the pain in my hands and shoulders. However, I’m still happy because the food I bring to the table for my children is the fruit of my labor.” ...

Jan 15 2023

December 6, 2022

“Even though obesity is genetic, I can’t have that as an excuse to ignore my body. The difficult conditions force me to spend most of my time in my restaurant. I wish I have the chance to work out daily. Right now, instead of workouts, I have organized an intake plan for myself, and I’m currently on a great diet plan. Friends often tell me, “How can you quit rich-in-fat foods and carbohydrates while you are a kebab chief and prepare many delicious dishes every day for the customers?” We have to realize that life is not all about eating. Health and a fit body are more important. What good is delicious food when you can’t wear something fitting to you and suffer from tens of illnesses? It is true that I mostly eat fruits and vegetables, but I’m glad that I’m healthy and looking after my body.” ...

Jan 15 2023

November 27, 2022

“There were days when no one in this city could compete with me in lifting weights, but now, I tear up for how weak I have become. If I tell people that I used to one-hand lift a gunnysack of flour, they might not believe me, but you can ask all of the old-time porters or people my age; they were all witnesses to my challenges. I lifted a 50-kilo gunnysack of flour, and that’s why I tattooed the number 50 on my arm. Now, I can’t even lift a kerosene heater or a gas bottle, but I’m thankful to the Lord for being healthy and not ill. Old age doesn’t shy from anyone.” ...

Jan 15 2023

November 16, 2022

“I opened a tailor shop in the 60s, and I’m considered the oldest tailor in Akre who is still in the profession. I learned this work from my ancestors, and they learned from the Jews. In return, I taught my children, and now they have shops too. Besides them, I have taught this profession to 70 women, and now their livelihood is on it. I remember many old artists, such as Tahsin Taha, Ardawan Zakhoiy, and Fuad Ahmad, who used to come to me to tailor their attire. During Newroz and holidays, people visit me for traditional Kurdish clothes from everywhere. This gives me a great feeling of accomplishment because it means I’ve been doing my job flawlessly and that it has reached this state.” ...

Nov 07 2022

November 7, 2022

“I don’t recall how long I have been a hawker, but I know there isn’t a street in this city that I haven’t passed through hundreds of times. I have gone into every neighborhood while daydreaming. They have called me different names since I remember; the children call me the “old man” and the women call me “the hawker man.” And sometimes, they even call me the Cheerful Hajji. The names don’t matter to me; selling my products does. I’m happy when I see an old man and sell him nail clippers; he prays well for me, or when I sell a pencil to a child, and they run to the end of the street in happiness. Differentiating and recognizing people is not hard for me; I have been going through these neighborhoods for a long time, and I can separate the good from the bad ones.” ...

Oct 31 2022

October 16, 2022

“Every day, from my village on the Iraq-Iran border, I walk for an hour to Pshdar’s Shene village to work on construction and farming; it takes me another hour to go back. I spent half of my life toiling; this face is not a face of a 30 years old man; I have seen the hardship of life. My brothers attended school, but I didn’t. However, I have four children, and I always tell them to study so they won’t end up like me. I show them my tired and wounded hands, so they focus on their future and study.” ...

Oct 31 2022

October 31, 2022

“In 1977 I was doing my military service in Said Sadiq, and my profession was cobbling. I was cobbling the shoes and boots of the army men. Later, I returned to Akre and opened a shop. I have been in this profession for 42 years now, I’m really satisfied with it, and it has served my family and me pretty well. I open my shop for eight hours daily and fix shoes, school bags, and home equipment. In the 80s and 90s, people were fixing their shoes from four sides and were okay with it, so I had so many customers to the point that I had no time to answer anyone. But now people find it shameful to wear a shoe that has been cobbled, hence the profession is not as it used to be.” ...

Sep 16 2022

September 26, 2022

“I spent half of my life in war and on the front lines. During my time, military service was mandatory. I have memories from all of the provinces in Iraq. People my age remember how we had to prepare ourselves for each war after one another. We are used to war; thus, unfortunately, we could never have an ordinary life. So many times, I have cried about being away from Kirkuk; sadly, nothing is how it used to be now. Maybe it is because how life has exhausted us has left a deep wound in our hearts. When I was younger, I didn’t have time to enjoy this city and its times, and now there is much time, but I’ve gotten old”. ...

Sep 16 2022

September 7, 2022

“I’m 62 years old and from Kani Maran village. I’ve been a cowherd for a long time. I wake up every day at 3:00 AM, eat my breakfast, take the buffalos to the plains, and stay there for about 12 hours. Buffalos prefer being in the water, but because of drought, many of the oasis and springs dried out, except for 1-2 locations left. This is causing people to sell their buffalos; if it continues like this, I’ll be jobless too, and a family of seven depends on this work; we’re barely making a living. When my house caught fire, the village people helped and collected money for me.Buffalo’s yogurt has a substantial demand because it is rich in fats and doesn’t expire. It is sold in markets fast; sometimes, people even get in the queue for it." ...

Aug 25 2022

August 25, 2022

“I’m 70 years old, and I’ve been working on collecting photos and antique pieces for 11 years now. This is my favorite hobby, some of them I’ve bought for high prices, and others were gifted to me. The photos date back to a long time ago up until now. People have asked me many times to sell the place, but these are history and not for sale. I come here every day and feel joyful. The only thing that I fear the most is this place catching fire. I have told my wife that she should take my place here after my death. I spent a lot of money here, and I’m pleased. People use their money for other things; I want to serve the city of Sulaymaniyah”. ...

Aug 13 2022

March 27, 2022