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Iraqi Folk Poets Face Criticism
Many Iraqis recite folk poetry, which is written in colloquial Arabic, stating support for the Popular Mobilization Units and for the fight against the Islamic State. These poems can be found on satellite TV channels, social networking sites and Iraqi radio stations. The widespread phenomenon in Iraqi society has outweighed other forms of creativity and arts such as poetry in classical Arabic and drawing.
Arabic teacher Kazim Hasan told Al-Monitor, “Politicized folk poems have overridden classical poetry that does not stand a chance against the sweeping wave of colloquial poems.”
Folk poems have always reflected social and political events in Iraq. Many poets excelled in this type of poetry and have been known for their expressive recital.
However, folk poetry today, according to writer and critic Ali Hassan al-Fawaz, “has become a phenomenon blown out of proportion, but it is not something new. The regime of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, which was ousted in 2003, had used this kind of poetry to spread the culture of war.”
He said, “There is lack of editing and reviewing of texts as well as technical standards to write poems, which has a significant history in popular culture through important poets such as Al-Haj Zayer and Mullah Abboud al-Karkhi.”
Fawaz said, “Poetry today serves as some sort of political and cultural tool, which undermines its artistic value and its message to develop popular consciousness that would enhance the aesthetic and intellectual vision in the face of malice, apostasy and terrorism.”
Social and folklore researcher Rahim Ghaleb told Al-Monitor, “Many of those who support and recite this kind of poetry are illiterate or have limited cultural knowledge, which is reflected in their poetry output.”
“Unemployment and the lack of willingness to be educated are the main aspects of ignorance in society,” Ghaleb said. “The number of folk poets has exponentially increased since 2003. The unemployed who have failed in school turned to this kind of poetry as a career to earn fame and money. This is the case of most folk poets. However, this does not mean that there are no university graduates or employees engaged in this type of poetry, but again they are few.”
Source: www.al-monitor.com