Unkown To No One, or, as they are more commonly called, UTN1, is considered the pioneer pop band of Iraq. Having begun in 1999 during the reign of Saddam Hussein they dared to form a pop band at a time when Iraq was dominated by traditional music. UTN1 began as the creative project of band members Art (Artin) and Shant, who later recruited three more members – Hassan, Akhlad, and Nadeem (who left the group in 2009). Completely self funded, they scraped together the money to record their first album in 2000. The band can still recall a time when they had only one instrument – a keyboard, which they used to compose songs together out of their Volkswagen Passat, which doubled as their original practice space.

Although they garnered a strong local following, they lacked professional support for the first few years. In 2002, as a result, in part, of the increasing international focus on Iraq, they were offered contracts by British producers. Unfortunately, politics and international events would prevent them from traveling to the United Kingdom for several more years. It wasn’t until 2004 that they were able to sign with a record label that could really open doors for them.

The band has now released three albums, several music videos (like the one below), and successfully toured in multiple countries. UTN1 recently completed a tour of the US that took them all over the country, including California, Arizona, New York, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Although UTN1 refers to themselves as a pop band, the prominent use of the piano–once the only instrument they had access to–gives this band a slightly more classical sound. Their repertoire also includes the occasional heavy guitar riff, lending a more alternative/rock sound (I’m thinking specifically of “Tet-thakkarine,” from their 2010 album of the same name).

Part of the impetus for the band’s creative force is the idea that music can bridge cultures, that is why they continue to perform in both English and Arabic (including multiple dialects). Their music inevitably has been inspired by the state of Iraq during the war. Their song “While We Can,” sung in English, was written after their return to Iraqi in 2007, at which point they were shocked to discover the extent of the damage that the war had brought on. “While We Can” describes the never ending fear of living in the midst of violence, but at the same time the hope of a better life and a brighter future for Iraq.

On January 25th, UTN1 will be performing at an event hosted by the US Institute of Peace: Next Generation of Peace Building and Social Change in the Arab World. The event will include three young cultural activists who will speak on social change in the Arab world and will feature an exclusive screening of the first episode of the new season of Salam Shabab, Iraq’s first peacebuilding reality television show, sharing the stories of Iraq’s youth.

I grew up in a wonderful community in Amarillo, Texas, home of the 72 ounce steak, cowboys in chaps and spurs, and plains as far as the eye can see. This idyllic backdrop provided the perfect stage for me to use my imagination by playing ‘pretend’ and dreaming of distant lands and peoples. From trekking the impenetrable jungles of Papua New Guinea while dodging headhunters, or climbing Mount Everest with the Sherpas, to kayaking the Amazon and befriending shamans, my mind led me on adventure after adventure. I would spin the globe, pick a spot, and imagine myself there.

Strangely though, the Middle East was never a place I thought much about then.  All I really knew of the entire region was what I had heard and seen on the news about the Gulf War. As a child, the newscasters and foreign correspondents didn’t make much sense to me, but the videos I saw made an impression. Images of violence, pain, suffering, inhospitable climates, and people who seemingly were nothing like me, resulted in a less than positive perception of Iraq.

At that time, I didn’t know about the rich culture of the people there and how their music, art, innovation, and cuisine have made an impact on the outside world. I didn’t recognize the historical importance of the region and that it was the “Cradle of Civilization” where events took place that changed the course of history. In fact, even the world’s first writing system was established in Iraq, enabling history, law, and information to be recorded. I didn’t understand the regime that was controlling the country and its people, and I certainly didn’t know any Iraqis or their stories. I had never stepped foot in their homes, their markets or mosques, or witnessed the things that caused them joy or worry.

As I got older, however, I developed a deep interest in international travel and actually experiencing cultures. I began reading more purposefully and listening to news more critically. Around that time, I also became a serious athlete. As time progressed and my involvement in sport grew, my attention shifted to sport for development. Using sport as a vehicle to impact people and change lives, not just as a game with an end unto itself, was incredibly appealing. In the summer of 2010 I was invited by Global Sports Partners to participate in a project in Iraq, both in Baghdad and further north in Kurdistan.

The trip was fruitful. It gave me first-hand experiences with people that I previously had only known through books, newspapers, articles, and ethnographies. After my time in Iraq was over, I wrote in my journal:

I’m on the plane going to trek in the Kackar Mountains right now, and they’re stuck behind living in a situation they can’t entirely control. If I leave this place and leave my experiences in this book, my trip will be in vain; their stories need to be told…

So here I stand many months later, with a serendipitous opportunity to work with an organization that is striving to make a positive difference in Iraq. The Iraq War has undoubtedly effected countless people at home and abroad, resulting in certain impressions about Iraq and its people, just as the Gulf War initially did for me. I hope throughout the course of this blog, however, that I can provide a more personal insight into the Iraqi people and their country. I want to share what I learned from them, how they impacted me, and how we as Americans have the opportunity to make a positive difference for them. I look forward to it.

Until next time,

Leah

“Make the impossible possible” was the slogan of the recent TEDx Conference in Baghdad. TEDxBaghdad hosted the National Youth Orchestra, environmentalists, activists, and educators from all over Iraq. For many, it was a dream come true to have their hopes for Iraq’s future displayed publicly and with like-minded individuals.

Unfortunately, that kind of opportunity is enjoyed all too rarely by Iraq’s youth who have few outlets like TEDxBaghdad in which to participate. Even with a growing youth population, the supply of outlets for creative and civic expression haven’t risen with demand.

Regardless, young voices are still speaking. Washington Post writer, Dan Zak, recently profiled several youth who have been striving to make a difference in Iraqi political and social life. These individuals included a protester, an elected official, a musician, bloggers, and a social activist. You can read about them and their efforts here. These youth share the goal of a peaceful, prosperous Iraq, after a lifetime of turbulence.

Zak spent seven weeks in Iraq this autumn, interviewing youth from across the country for a series of portraits of young Iraqis as they prepare to inherit a war-scarred nation on the eve of US withdrawal.  Through interviews with Iraqi youth, Zak hoped to capture their feelings about the future of their country, their current political system, and personal security.

What Zak found was a generation frustrated with the inadequacy of their political opportunities. Many of them distrust the legitimacy of the ballot and view their political leadership as a pseudo-regime that deprives them of basic rights. But many of them were also afraid to lose the small, democratic gains they have made. They also worry that their generation will be drawn into the tribal and sectarian conflicts of their elders. They feel angry that the world has forgotten about them and the freedom they were promised 8½ years ago. No Iraqi born since 1979 has known a time without dictatorship, war, or occupation, and they are ready for the light at the end of a very long tunnel.

Zak also answered readers’ questions about his experiences and topics such as theUS withdrawal. His answers further illuminate the difficulties facing Iraqi youth, for example, discovering that your American peers cannot even find Iraq on a map.

These challenges considered, it becomes all the more important to bring youth together and empower them to face Iraq’s challenges. It also reveals how significant it was that we could connect nine young men of differing ethnic backgrounds on our Iraqi Youth Hike and have them make meaningful connections with each other. When Iraqis talk about the next generation, they use expressions like “crossroads” and “tipping point,” which is why it’s important that they be given opportunities to build skills and empower themselves for the fights they will have to face as the future leaders of Iraq.