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Mosul tells festival on tour in Iraq

More than eight different ethnic and religious groups coexist in the city of Mosul. Successive wars and ongoing conflicts affect social cohesion in the city. Over the last two decades, social and cultural connections have been severely damaged, especially after the ISIS occupation of the city. Our Mosul Tells project is all about fostering social cohesion through oral history and art and to help increase the visibility of the city’s cultural diversity. As we are approaching the final months of this two-year project, our puppet theatre and exhibition are on tour in cities around Iraq. Here’s a media coverage of our festival in Erbil:

The project has produced animations showing old folk tales and myths. Our puppet theatre show is also available online to watch:

This performance took place on 4 March in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq. It is part of the Mosul Tells project by @elbarlament7393 and Paia Agency and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and Art+. Eight young adults from Mosul and the Ninawa region developed the story alongside puppet theater icon and director Alison Duddle and puppeteer Johnny Quick from the UK. "Nest" is a puppet play that tells the story of two families in Mosul that move beyond their differences, and build a beautiful, welcoming community together. While the elderly couple is in grief for their lost son, the other family is caught in their day-to-day life with their little daughter. When the child seeks contact with its neighbors, the old man gets an idea: what if he planted an apple seed in the garden? A big tree is growing quickly, and with it, a bird arrives. Step by step, nature returns to the gray neighborhood and the garden starts to bloom. And yet, the greatest surprise for the old people is still to come... "Nest" talks about working together, making homes for those who need them, and loving and caring for our environment. It also invites you to think about the type of world we will leave for our children. Dive into a story of reconnecting communities and enjoy the show! The show was performed on a tour all around Iraq in spring 2024. You can find more about the project here: https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/

This performance took place on 4 March in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq. It is part of the Mosul Tells project by @elbarlament7393 and Paia Agency and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and Art+.

Eight young adults from Mosul and the Ninawa region developed the story alongside puppet theater icon and director Alison Duddle and puppeteer Johnny Quick from the UK.

"Nest" is a puppet play that tells the story of two families in Mosul that move beyond their differences, and build a beautiful, welcoming community together. While the elderly couple is in grief for their lost son, the other family is caught in their day-to-day life with their little daughter. When the child seeks contact with its neighbors, the old man gets an idea: what if he planted an apple seed in the garden?
A big tree is growing quickly, and with it, a bird arrives. Step by step, nature returns to the gray neighborhood and the garden starts to bloom. And yet, the greatest surprise for the old people is still to come...

"Nest" talks about working together, making homes for those who need them, and loving and caring for our environment. It also invites you to think about the type of world we will leave for our children.

Dive into a story of reconnecting communities and enjoy the show!

The show was performed on a tour all around Iraq in spring 2024.

You can find more about the project here: https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/

YouTube Video UExmT3ppbFJiNThJTHZET0xTSkFFc0F5RWo0c3hPZElONS41NkI0NEY2RDEwNTU3Q0M2

'The Nest' puppet show

This animation is the outcome of a series of oral history workshops with young adults from the cities of Mosul and the governorate of Ninewa in Iraq. These took place within the project 'Mosul Tells: restoring community links through art and culture'. Coming from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, the participants conducted research and interviews people from their respective communities, collecting folk tales, myths and memories. These old folk tales were then turned into 3D, 2D and Stop Motion animations." You can learn more about the project at https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/. More animations are available on our Mosul Tells playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIegfivpyj0&list=PLfOzilRb58ILvDOLSJAEsAyEj4sxOdIN5&pp=gAQBiAQB

This animation is the outcome of a series of oral history workshops with young adults from the cities of Mosul and the governorate of Ninewa in Iraq. These took place within the project 'Mosul Tells: restoring community links through art and culture'. Coming from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, the participants conducted research and interviews people from their respective communities, collecting folk tales, myths and memories. These old folk tales were then turned into 3D, 2D and Stop Motion animations."

You can learn more about the project at https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/.

More animations are available on our Mosul Tells playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIegfivpyj0&list=PLfOzilRb58ILvDOLSJAEsAyEj4sxOdIN5&pp=gAQBiAQB

YouTube Video UExmT3ppbFJiNThJTHZET0xTSkFFc0F5RWo0c3hPZElONS41MzJCQjBCNDIyRkJDN0VD

Dukkah - animation (Iraq)

This animation is the outcome of a series of oral history workshops with young adults from the cities of Mosul and the governorate of Ninewa in Iraq. These took place within the project 'Mosul Tells: restoring community links through art and culture'. Coming from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, the participants conducted research and interviews people from their respective communities, collecting folk tales, myths and memories. These old folk tales were then turned into 3D, 2D and Stop Motion animations." You can learn more about the project at https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/. More animations are available on our Mosul Tells playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIegfivpyj0&list=PLfOzilRb58ILvDOLSJAEsAyEj4sxOdIN5&pp=gAQBiAQB

This animation is the outcome of a series of oral history workshops with young adults from the cities of Mosul and the governorate of Ninewa in Iraq. These took place within the project 'Mosul Tells: restoring community links through art and culture'. Coming from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, the participants conducted research and interviews people from their respective communities, collecting folk tales, myths and memories. These old folk tales were then turned into 3D, 2D and Stop Motion animations."

You can learn more about the project at https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/.

More animations are available on our Mosul Tells playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIegfivpyj0&list=PLfOzilRb58ILvDOLSJAEsAyEj4sxOdIN5&pp=gAQBiAQB

YouTube Video UExmT3ppbFJiNThJTHZET0xTSkFFc0F5RWo0c3hPZElONS5DQUNERDQ2NkIzRUQxNTY1

The Old Women - animation (Iraq)

This animation is the outcome of a series of oral history workshops with young adults from the cities of Mosul and the governorate of Ninewa in Iraq. These took place within the project 'Mosul Tells: restoring community links through art and culture'. Coming from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, the participants conducted research and interviews people from their respective communities, collecting folk tales, myths and memories. These old folk tales were then turned into 3D, 2D and Stop Motion animations." You can learn more about the project at https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/. More animations are available on our Mosul Tells playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIegfivpyj0&list=PLfOzilRb58ILvDOLSJAEsAyEj4sxOdIN5&pp=gAQBiAQB

This animation is the outcome of a series of oral history workshops with young adults from the cities of Mosul and the governorate of Ninewa in Iraq. These took place within the project 'Mosul Tells: restoring community links through art and culture'. Coming from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, the participants conducted research and interviews people from their respective communities, collecting folk tales, myths and memories. These old folk tales were then turned into 3D, 2D and Stop Motion animations."

You can learn more about the project at https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/.

More animations are available on our Mosul Tells playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIegfivpyj0&list=PLfOzilRb58ILvDOLSJAEsAyEj4sxOdIN5&pp=gAQBiAQB

YouTube Video UExmT3ppbFJiNThJTHZET0xTSkFFc0F5RWo0c3hPZElONS45NDk1REZENzhEMzU5MDQz

Rain, Rain - animation (Iraq)

This animation is the outcome of a series of oral history workshops with young adults from the cities of Mosul and the governorate of Ninewa in Iraq. These took place within the project 'Mosul Tells: restoring community links through art and culture'. Coming from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, the participants conducted research and interviews people from their respective communities, collecting folk tales, myths and memories. These old folk tales were then turned into 3D, 2D and Stop Motion animations." You can learn more about the project at https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/. More animations are available on our Mosul Tells playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIegfivpyj0&list=PLfOzilRb58ILvDOLSJAEsAyEj4sxOdIN5&pp=gAQBiAQB

This animation is the outcome of a series of oral history workshops with young adults from the cities of Mosul and the governorate of Ninewa in Iraq. These took place within the project 'Mosul Tells: restoring community links through art and culture'. Coming from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, the participants conducted research and interviews people from their respective communities, collecting folk tales, myths and memories. These old folk tales were then turned into 3D, 2D and Stop Motion animations."

You can learn more about the project at https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/.

More animations are available on our Mosul Tells playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIegfivpyj0&list=PLfOzilRb58ILvDOLSJAEsAyEj4sxOdIN5&pp=gAQBiAQB

YouTube Video UExmT3ppbFJiNThJTHZET0xTSkFFc0F5RWo0c3hPZElONS5GNjNDRDREMDQxOThCMDQ2

Healing Water - animation (Iraq)

This animation is the outcome of a series of oral history workshops with young adults from the cities of Mosul and the governorate of Ninewa in Iraq. These took place within the project 'Mosul Tells: restoring community links through art and culture'. Coming from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, the participants conducted research and interviews people from their respective communities, collecting folk tales, myths and memories. These old folk tales were then turned into 3D, 2D and Stop Motion animations." You can learn more about the project at https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/.

This animation is the outcome of a series of oral history workshops with young adults from the cities of Mosul and the governorate of Ninewa in Iraq. These took place within the project 'Mosul Tells: restoring community links through art and culture'. Coming from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, the participants conducted research and interviews people from their respective communities, collecting folk tales, myths and memories. These old folk tales were then turned into 3D, 2D and Stop Motion animations."

You can learn more about the project at https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/.

YouTube Video UExmT3ppbFJiNThJTHZET0xTSkFFc0F5RWo0c3hPZElONS40NzZCMERDMjVEN0RFRThB

A Tail of Tales - animation (Iraq)

When the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) invaded Mosul in 2014, many families left the city. Some people, however, stayed and hid in shelters, not coming out for some time. Between 16 October 2016 and 20 July 2017, Iraqi Government forces fought alongside allied militias, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and international forces to liberate the city in what is called “the Battle of Mosul”. This story narrates a hundred days in the life of Ayoob’s family that hid and protected themselves during the Battle of Mosul in the basement of the house of Hajj Sa’adoun (80 years old).  Ayoob narrates a story of trauma, fear, and eventually hope for the families of Mosul during the final months before its liberation. The end of the siege meant that Ayoob could finally say “we’re reborn”.  This animation is currently being submitted for film festivals and can be accessed on this website at a later stage. This animation is the outcome of a series of oral history workshops with young adults from the cities of Mosul and the governorate of Ninewa in Iraq. These took place within the project 'Mosul Tells: restoring community links through art and culture'. Coming from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, the participants conducted research and interviews people from their respective communities, collecting folk tales, myths and memories. These old folk tales were then turned into 3D, 2D and Stop Motion animations." You can learn more about the project at https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/.

When the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) invaded Mosul in 2014, many families left the city. Some people, however, stayed and hid in shelters, not coming out for some time. Between 16 October 2016 and 20 July 2017, Iraqi Government forces fought alongside allied militias, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and international forces to liberate the city in what is called “the Battle of Mosul”.

This story narrates a hundred days in the life of Ayoob’s family that hid and protected themselves during the Battle of Mosul in the basement of the house of Hajj Sa’adoun (80 years old). 

Ayoob narrates a story of trauma, fear, and eventually hope for the families of Mosul during the final months before its liberation. The end of the siege meant that Ayoob could finally say “we’re reborn”. 

This animation is currently being submitted for film festivals and can be accessed on this website at a later stage.

This animation is the outcome of a series of oral history workshops with young adults from the cities of Mosul and the governorate of Ninewa in Iraq. These took place within the project 'Mosul Tells: restoring community links through art and culture'. Coming from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, the participants conducted research and interviews people from their respective communities, collecting folk tales, myths and memories. These old folk tales were then turned into 3D, 2D and Stop Motion animations."

You can learn more about the project at https://elbarlament.org/projects/mosul-tells-restoring-community-links-through-art-and-oral-history/.

YouTube Video UExmT3ppbFJiNThJTHZET0xTSkFFc0F5RWo0c3hPZElONS5EMEEwRUY5M0RDRTU3NDJC

The last day - animation (Iraq)

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