Culture: Music scene develops rapidly in Iraq

Baghdad - INA

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities announced today, Sunday, that Iraq is witnessing a musical revolution with new national bands. It indicated that the Iraqi state provides all logistical support to artists to organize concerts and festivals.

The Director General of the Department of Musical Arts at the Ministry, Alaa Majeed, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "There is a musical revolution in Iraq now, embodied by national bands such as the (Sumariat) band and the National Band for Iraqi Musical Heritage."

He added that "the bands affiliated with the Ministry of Culture receive full support from the ministry, and that the Minister of Culture, Ahmed Fakak Al-Badrani, pays them personal attention," noting that "the two bands present large concerts every month, whether in the National Theater or other theaters, in addition to their participation in conferences or invitations from official bodies."

Regarding the Babylon Festival, Majeed said: "There are two festivals under the name of the Babylon Festival, one of which is held by Babylon Governorate, and the other is the Babylon Festival of Cultures, and so far there is no clarity regarding the artists who are hosted in these two festivals."

Regarding supporting artists, Majeed said: "In all parts of the world, no country supports a singer until he becomes famous. Today, the singer or performer depends on his effort and creativity to achieve success. The media is now open, and there are many TV stations, and spreading has become easier than before on the global level," noting that "the Iraqi state provides all logistical support to artists, such as the Rashid and National Theaters, which contribute to organizing concerts and festivals, and the matter remains in the hands of the artists to achieve success."