Orvim are no longer active but Yaniv recently contacted me to introduce to me a new artistic project: the trio Radio Baghdad. Yaniv introduced the trio with these words: “our trio of traditional Iraqi music that our singer Aviv Ezra grew up listening to it with his family. This genre was brought to Israel with the big immigration from Iraq in the 1950s.”

The conversation continued and he told me about Daoud & Saleh Al-Kuwaity. Today we will listen to them. Yaniv also explained to me that Dudu Tassa is the grandson of Daoud Al-Kuwaiti and his music continues this legacy. Feel free to enjoy Dudu Tassa’s work, for instance in this video. Find Daoud & Saleh’s music at the bottom.

“In their first album – Fraghum Bachani, Radio Baghdad explore the unique music of Iraqi Maqam. Recorded live in a joined space and as one-takes for each long piece, mixed and produced in an analogue studio, re-recorded through the warm and raw sound amplifiers and tape.”

They emigrated to Israel in 1951. The website of the Jewish Music Research Center explains that “After their emigration from Iraq, their names were intentionally forgotten, and their songs were titled “folksongs” or ascribed to other musicians.” In the Israeli society of that time, the Arabic music was not very recognised. Nevertheless, they got to make a living. The performed in a weekly radio show as well as with the Arabic Orchestra of Kol Yisrael (Israeli Broadcasting Authority). 

One of the nicest sources about them that I found is this article in Haaretz newspaper (in Hebrew). The English version is this. It is unpayable! This is just the beginning:

“While Baghdad’s international airport has been the scene of many unusual events, this may have been one of the strangest in its history. In 1951, a limousine burst onto the runway and blocked the path of a departing plane – not in an attempt to stop a secret shipment of weapons, fleeing spies or smuggled gold, but rather for diplomats to deliver a personal message to one of the passengers, Jewish musician Salah al Kuwaiti. Mubarak al Sabah, the ruler of neighboring Kuwait, begged him to change his mind about immigrating to Israel. According to the message, his departure would not only be a severe blow to the Kuwaiti and Iraqi culture, but it would also render the sheikh’s life far less enjoyable.” 

This was told to the newspaper by Shlomo al-Kuwaiti, Salah’s son, who produced a double album with the recordings of his father and uncle called “Their Star Will Never Fade” (available to buy here). Later on this superb document he tells something that can help us to understand the decision of emigrating to Israel: 

“Although the official attitude toward Jews in Iraq was hostile, they became favorites of King Razi and were even asked to establish an orchestra for Iraqi national radio, which broadcast from the king’s palace. “In effect, the Jews dominated Iraqi music. Out of 250 leading instrumentalists in Baghdad in the 1940s, only three were Muslims. There was a historical reason for this. The Ottoman government in Iraq in the 19th century was fanatic, and did not allow the Muslims to play music, claiming that it was contemptible work. The Jews then entered the vacuum that was created.”

Read the complete article to understand better what happened after they moved to Israel and what has been the development of the recognition of the Arab Jewish music, both in Israel and in the Arab countries.

There is much more to tell about the Jews in Iraq so in future editions I will come back to this topic and we’ll learn about the synagogues in Babylon. Nowadays in Baghdad there is just one active synagogue, the Meir Taweig.

Araceli Tzigane | Mapamundi Música

And we share with you one hour of music for joy in this playlist.
To know more about our artists, click here.

May you always find the light in your path.

These is our artistic offer for live show:
Gulaza – Janusz Prusinowski Kompania Jewish Memory