Humans of South - Humans of Kurdistan

“I am from the Bnary Kusrat village at the brim of Dukan lake. Ever since I have known myself, I have not gone to school and my life depended on agriculture. By planting tobacco, sunflower, and watermelon, I provide for myself and have a minor salary from my Peshmerga days. But as of now, I am a farmer and I am occupied with producing sunflowers on my farm, whereas I have evolved 12 acres of land into sunflower plants this year. I regret not going to school but I am delighted to have 5 sons, who are all educated. Despite my immense efforts with them, they are yet to finish school. Their contrast with their mother and I is that they are able to read and write, and we are illiterate. But we have occupied ourselves with agriculture and I sell our products in Sulaymaniyah and Pshdar and provide for my family with it”. ...

Sep 13 2021

September 13, 2021

“When I first started working with my father, we would make tahini with very simple equipment. I recall back in that time, our tahini mill operated with water and we would grill the sesame with wood and fire. We had very little product with a lot of diligence on daily basis. Thanks to God, we have transported our factory from the village to a much larger village called Qasrok in the borders of Duhok City. Currently, my brothers and I work together, and we make more than 1 ton of sesame into tahini, and manufacture 2000 Kilograms of tahini per day. A fraction of it is local sesame and we import the other fraction from abroad. The weather in Kurdistan Region is suitable for producing sesame but due to the strength and the increase in the sesame fat percentage in the Region, we import a selection of the sesame from abroad. As of now, we export all of our products to the Kurdistan Region, and due to the hygiene and quality of our tahini, it has a lot of demand. I have a very pleasant feeling because I get to witness the outcome of our years of diligence and I am proud of myself.”. ...

Sep 11 2021

September 11, 2021

“My friends and I are busy playing in that deserted area over there on daily basis. In many instances, adults complain and say that this is no place to play games and that jumping and leaping here is a mistake. Their excuse is that this place is covered with argil and our clothes will get smeared, or that the perils of all that smoke and the flames from the oil fields will influence our health. We are also aware of that but they must acknowledge the fact that we are children and we like playing. When we do not have anywhere to go, we are compelled to play here. When we gather in alleys, we cannot play from the fear of fast drivers. If we do not have designated locations for playing where we are secure, we are obligated to turn to a place as such. I hope the government can establish a number of centers and lawn playgrounds so that we could advance our aptitudes in sports”. ...

Sep 09 2021

September 9, 2021

“You perceive being an only child mostly when people and your surroundings repeatedly tell you and remind you that apparently, you are a lonely person and deserted. I am an only child and I have always thought that a human’s essence is his own pillar in every aspect. Therefore, if you believe that having various brothers means you won’t lack anything and that in one form or another, you are a whole person, I would like to inform you that you are immensely mistaken. One hundred brothers cannot become the safety net your parents can be. Being an only child is not the same as being an orphan. Being without a mother or a father is. We often overhear from people and they assume only children are weak. Personally, I feel as though it is exactly the opposite. Because you feel as though you must stand on your own feet from a very early age. Therefore, I want to inform all the only children who are similar to me, that we are powerful people, we are our own support and backbone”. ...

Sep 05 2021

September 5, 2021

“I have been visiting the Great Mosque for 30 years and pray there. I have memorized the entire 30 parts of the Quran. I recall when I had good eyesight, I used to crop wheat and barley and cut down trees in the village. When I lost my eyes, I was not able to perform anything, it was very hard. In the year 1953, I lost both my eyes due to eye pain. I do not have hope that my eyes will heal ever again because they do not even have corneas any longer. But this is God’s will, and he will form rocks inside the eyes if he desires. In the year 1959, I asked for my cousin’s hand in marriage and we wedded. She cared for me very well, and thank God, we have 5 sons and 5 daughters. On the day of the Halabja Bombardment, I was heading to the mosque to perform the lead prayer. I reached the gates and the sound of planes appeared. Everyone ran. My son grasped my hands and we went inside a basement. I lost many families and relatives due to the chemical bombings. If I had my eyesight, I would have liked to see the saints; to see Sheikh Ahmad again alongside everyone else I know”. ...

Aug 29 2021

August 29, 2021

“There are plenty of people who are unemployed with the excuse of the lack of work opportunities. If a man is determined to work, he will find bread in the mouth of a lion. I am from Hajiawa and I currently reside there. Job opportunities are limited in that neighborhood. There aren’t many work openings and vacancies as required. It is not possible to wait on employment. Therefore, for the past few years, I found it suitable to sell fruits on the side of the road in Smaquli. I alter my fruits depending on the season, and I am familiar with the tourist’s preferences. Generally, they enjoy fruits that can be devoured on the road inside their cars such as, (plum, rhubarb, strawberry, apricot, berries, Egyptian cucumber, and so on). So, I try to bring the fruits that are domestic products from the fruits and vegetable suppliers as much as I can, because they taste better for the customers and it is beneficial for the region’s economy, and it also motivates our farmers.I love the location I work in. Although it is the source of my income, I was also acquainted with a good household here; we became relatives and they are now my in-laws”. ...

Aug 01 2021

August 1, 2021

“Back when I was 11 years old, I would watch Karate and Kungfu tournaments on the television screen. Even though during that era, satellite channels and social media platforms did not exist. Oftentimes, I would watch Korean or Japanese films, in my heart, I would wish to be acquainted with that art. I will never forget when my deceased mother would turn sacks and cloths into a cushion, I would hang it on the ceiling and practice for 2 to 3 hours every day. It got to the point where I would raise my voice and be buried so deep in the game, even my neighbors were aware of how passionate I am for that sport. In 1999, I practiced Kungfu and Karate with 2 black belt instructors for a year and a half. Afterwards, both of them relocated their homes to Erbil. We were over 20 players and were left without an instructor. It is misfortunate that within this society, solely soccer is considered as a sport, while other sports have faced neglect. Thus, I drifted afar from that sport and to this day, whenever I see a Karate player on the television, I feel a lump in my throat”. ...

Jul 11 2021

July 11, 2021

“I remember when I was a student in 8th grade at secondary school. At the time, we would study historical subjects and could perceive culture, relics, and historic topics reflect clearly, therefore it blended with my veins and body early on. I thought about collecting those items up until I completed high school. After I graduated from the institution, I returned to my village. I caught the sight of some remains, pots, and manuscripts written on stones in the area. To my dismay, today's generation does not give significance to such matters and has demolished most of them. I recall there have been times where we would discover vessels filled with money from that era, a portion of it was sold, and a portion of it has been detained by affiliated parties. Afterward, some of my friends and I from the village contemplated to start collecting cultural and folkloric remains to rescue them from extinction”. “In the beginning, we started from the village and collected various items. There were a lot of unique objects due to its’ early history; items that were utilized by our parents and grandparents. I would ask my father questions regularly and he would speak about those rural bygones. Things reached a stage where we received a few local television channels and arranged round tables and programs. I organized cultural and artefactual festivals in our village for two years in a row and acquainted my belongings with visitors and other people. Many people have shown praise and several others that have had ancient artifacts contacted me and brought them to me. One of my brothers offered me a house that currently has over (2000) cultural items and artifacts. This is a significant honor for me and it delights me to know that people still enjoy seeing these objects and equipment”. ...

Jul 08 2021

July 8, 2021

“During the 80s, I used to spend my days with a brush and paint; my paintings delighted my spirit. When the route converted after the uprising, I wanted to try an alternative art and started photography. Photography was more different, it required more time and sharp eyes. During the insurrection, I resided in Akre, and I would archive pictures of how the people rose. After the circumstances calmed, and the people stabilized, I captured pictures of peoples’ everyday lives and Kurdistans’ alluring nature. Later on, I built a shop to provide for myself and get by and took pictures of newlyweds. what is disheartening is that a recent class has emerged and has persuaded photography without any concern for etiquette. They have disintegrated the art and utilize it for personal interest. Photography is morality; the person who carries a camera is required to have high morale. I hope the nature, culture, and history of Kurdistan are transformed into portraits and hanged in public places instead of foreign pictures and draw peoples’ attention to Kurditsans’ nature”. ...

Jul 05 2021

July 5, 2021

“Age passes and does not shy away from anyone. I have worked as a porter for years. What I on no account thought of was the toilsome labor and the hefty objects I would lift with my shoulders. Unfortunately, I no longer have the strength nor the time. I have been working as a security guard in a factory for some years now, and spend all my time by my lonesome; I am the speaker and the listener as well. The factory owner respects me immensely and aids me, and I thank God for that but nothing compares to spending a night at your own home and resting with your children. I have been raising a bunch of pigeons and chickens. This might be difficult to believe but I love them as if they were my own children. It is correct that animals and humans are two separate worlds but unless you mingle with them, you will not understand how understanding they could be and how much devotion will be built within. Anytime one of my hens incubates, and their eggs hatch chicks, it delights me as much as receiving my monthly salary”. ...

Jun 10 2021

June 10, 2021