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T HE P EOPLE

melody and harmony. To a Westerner, this traditional Iraqi music is plaintive and squealing, while to many Iraqis Western music sounds crude and rough. However, younger Iraqis enjoy popular Western music. Literature is an art form that has existed in Iraq since ancient times. One of the oldest writings in the world is the Epic of Gilgamesh , the story of an ancient Mesopotamian king’s adventures. Over the past two decades, many modern Iraqi artists have fled their country due to political persecution or to escape the violence. Poets and writers frequently have expressed their longing for Iraq in their work. One well-known author is Saadi Yousef, who currently lives in London and has published more than 30 books of poetry. The novelist and poet Fadhil Al Azzawi, who now lives in Germany, has won many awards for his work. Playwright Salah Al-Hamdani, now living in France, has criticized both Saddam Hussein and the United States in his plays.

Text-Dependent Questions

1. What percentage of Iraqis are Arabs? What percentage are Kurds? 2. In what region do the Turkomen people live? 3. What are some art forms that are popular in Iraq?

Research Project Some contemporary Iraqis who are popular or well known include architect Zaha Hadid, singers Kadim al-Sahir and Dashni Murad, soccer players Ali Adnan and Ahmed Yasin Ghani, and new president Fuad Masum. Historical figures include the Medieval scientist Ibn al-Haytham and modern dictator Saddam Hussein. Choose one of these people and use the Internet or your school library to find out more about his or her life. Write a two-page biography of the person, and share it with your class.