In Philadelphia, a notable discovery at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology has rekindled the memories of the Yazidi community, one of Iraq's oldest religious minorities. This visual archive, nearly forgotten due to the atrocities committed by the Islamic State, features black-and-white photographs taken during the 1930s that depict the everyday lives, traditions, and heritage of the Yazidis.
One standout photograph revealed to researcher Marc Marin Webb was that of a Yazidi shrine, only to be recognized long after it was lost to violence. By painstakingly gathering nearly 300 images, Marin Webb and his team aim to restore the visual memory of a community shattered by genocide, where thousands were killed and many more displaced during the ISIS campaign.
Among those impacted is Ansam Basher, a Yazidi teacher now living in England. When the photos resurfaced, she was filled with emotion, especially upon seeing images from her grandparents' wedding. For Basher, who lost personal archives during the 2014 fall of Mosul to ISIS, these rediscovered images represent a heartwarming reconnection to her roots.
This cache of cultural memory documents the places, customs, and communal bonds that ISIS sought to obliterate. While the first exhibitions of these images took place in April to coincide with Yazidi New Year celebrations, their significance extends far beyond a gallery setting. As documentarian Nathaniel Brunt notes, these photographs manifest a powerful resistance against the cultural destruction faced by the Yazidi people.
The wedding photos show a richly adorned bride and family connections that transcend time. Basher's family shared stories of their influential lineage, connecting them to the archaeological efforts of Western historians who engaged with their ancestors decades ago. Many in the local community emphasise that these photographs not only depict their history but also combat the negative stereotypes often perpetuated in contemporary discourse about Iraq.
In a world where minority communities face existential threats, the revival of these photographs echoes the sentiment that the Yazidis, far from being defined simply by their hardships, embody resilience, identity, and a living history worth preserving.
One standout photograph revealed to researcher Marc Marin Webb was that of a Yazidi shrine, only to be recognized long after it was lost to violence. By painstakingly gathering nearly 300 images, Marin Webb and his team aim to restore the visual memory of a community shattered by genocide, where thousands were killed and many more displaced during the ISIS campaign.
Among those impacted is Ansam Basher, a Yazidi teacher now living in England. When the photos resurfaced, she was filled with emotion, especially upon seeing images from her grandparents' wedding. For Basher, who lost personal archives during the 2014 fall of Mosul to ISIS, these rediscovered images represent a heartwarming reconnection to her roots.
This cache of cultural memory documents the places, customs, and communal bonds that ISIS sought to obliterate. While the first exhibitions of these images took place in April to coincide with Yazidi New Year celebrations, their significance extends far beyond a gallery setting. As documentarian Nathaniel Brunt notes, these photographs manifest a powerful resistance against the cultural destruction faced by the Yazidi people.
The wedding photos show a richly adorned bride and family connections that transcend time. Basher's family shared stories of their influential lineage, connecting them to the archaeological efforts of Western historians who engaged with their ancestors decades ago. Many in the local community emphasise that these photographs not only depict their history but also combat the negative stereotypes often perpetuated in contemporary discourse about Iraq.
In a world where minority communities face existential threats, the revival of these photographs echoes the sentiment that the Yazidis, far from being defined simply by their hardships, embody resilience, identity, and a living history worth preserving.
