Ilham Al-Madfai
Andy hears Sufi trance music in Baghdad's most famous mosque, visits Baghdad's Voice of Youth FM station, and meets one of Iraq's top performers, Ilham Al-Madfai, who now lives in Jordan.
In his second encounter with Iraq and its musicians, Andy Kershaw meets one of Iraq's top performers, now a famous name throughout the Arab world. Ilham Al-Madfai was born in Baghdad, became a star singer in the 1970s, but left Iraq when Saddam Hussein came to power in 1979. However, at the start of the Gulf War in 1991, he returned to Iraq to become a national hero. He now lives in Jordan's capital, Amman.
Andy also hears Sufi trance music in Baghdad's most famous mosque and visits Baghdad's Voice of Youth FM station.
Last on
Clip
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Maqam music
Duration: 06:41
Music and featured items
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A song about the Tigris
An Iraqi folklore band singing a song about the Tigris river
Duration: 03:34
Music Played
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An Iraqi Folklore Band
A song about the Tigris River
- 成人论坛 recording on location.
Iraqi Maqam music
The history of Maqam as Baghdad鈥檚 main entertainment opportunity
Duration: 06:08
Music Played
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Al Haj Hashem Al Rajab
Maqam - excerpt
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Al Haj Hashem Al Rajab
Maqam - excerpt
The chanting of Sufis
Andy at a mosque in the centre of Baghdad hearing the chanting of Sufis
Duration: 04:00
Music Played
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Unknown
Sufis chanting in a Baghdad mosque
- 成人论坛 recording on location.
Andy learns about Sufism
Andy speaks to a Sufi in a Baghdad mosque and learns about Sufism
Duration: 07:55
Music Played
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Sufis chanting in a Baghdad mosque
A song praising the Iraqi army and calling for the liberation of Jerusalem
- 成人论坛 recording on location.
At Baghdad's Voice of Youth FM station
Andy visits Baghdad's Voice of Youth FM station owned by Saddam Hussein鈥檚 son.
Duration: 08:18
Music Played
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Unknown - Various pop tracks being played on the Voice of Youth FM
Andy with Ilham Al Madfai
Andy in Amman, Jordan meeting Ilham Al Madfai, Iraqi musical legend living in exile.
Duration: 05:28
Music Played
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Ilham al-Madfai
Unknown
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Ilham al-Madfai
Unknown
Memories of Bagdad
Ilham Al Madfai tells Andy Kershaw about the Baghdad he remembers, glamorous and lavish
Duration: 08:17
Music Played
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Ilham al-Madfai
Mali Chugul Bil Soug
On "Ya Adouli" plagarised by Boney M
Ilham Al Madfai on combining the old and new in his music
Duration: 03:42
Losing 2m dollars to piracy
Ilham Al Madfai talks to Andy about music piracy in Iraq and the Middle East
Duration: 08:47
Music Played
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Ilham al-Madfai
Ya Adoul
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Ilham al-Madfai
Khuttar
Broadcasts
- Sat 21 Jul 2001 13:00成人论坛 Radio 3
- Sat 16 Nov 2002 13:00成人论坛 Radio 3
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World Music Archive—World on 3
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