It’s easy to romanticise Baghdad. The mere mention of it brings to mind visions of ancient cities, like Sumer and Babylon. Symbolic rivers divide its districts and aged stonewalls still speak of its former eras. Photos often capture the orange glow of sunrise as it awakens the city’s musicians, poets, and artists.
While working on this issue, we found that Baghdad’s culture is deeply rooted in the corners of its history as well as the hopes for its future.