COURAGE IN CREATIVITY

Akeel Khreef speaks to the still, silent reeds of the southern Iraqi marshes, celebrating their ancient history, and asking how they will survive the man-made ecological disasters that have lead to their decline. “You’re almost 5000 years old. What’s the difference between the past and now?” He asks. Follow Akeel Khreef’s journey through Iraq’s southern…

A resident of the Iraqi marshes tells artist Akeel Khreef about their declining way of life, which has been threatened by pollution and rising temperatures. “His lifestyle depends on water,” says Abu Salah, of the resident of the marsh Arabs like himself,“It’s like killing him, to tell him to go to the city,” “Seven buffaloes…

Akeel Khreef follows buffalo living along the Iraqi marshes of Chibayish. The region suffered terribly under Saddam when he drained it in order to punish the Marsh Arabs, the Madan, who had backed a Shiite uprising. Thousands of people were then murdered, houses burned down, land mines scattered and remaining water sources were poisoned. The…

In winter, the sun sets early in over the reeds, and inhabitants, enjoying the cool breeze, sing folk songs as they race back home on their makeshift speedboats. Follow Akeel Khreef’s journey here.