The city of Mosul boasts a rich musical and lyrical heritage spanning hundreds of years, shaped by influential artists such as Ishaq al-Mawsili, Ibrahim al-Mawsili, Mullah Othman al-Mawsili, Jamil Bashir, Munir Bashir, Khalid Mohammed Ali, Akram Habib, and many others. These figures laid the foundation for Mosul's musical and artistic legacy, granting the city a distinguished position among the cultural centers of the East. However, the arts in general, and music in particular, have suffered significantly from the lack of dedicated programs to document and preserve this heritage as a testament to the city's cultural and historical value. This neglect has led to the loss of a substantial portion of Mosul's musical and artistic materials.
In response, the Book Forum Foundation has undertaken an initiative to document the musical and lyrical heritage that Mosul was renowned for over the past century, particularly the works of Mullah Othman al-Mawsili and Sayyed Ahmed al-Mawsili. This effort aims to revive this art through modern musical arrangements and present it to audiences in a way that reflects Mosul's history and civilization. This project was completed at the Al-Manahil Studios under the supervision of sound engineer Moaid al-Sabawi, with funding provided by the German Embassy in Baghdad. (You can watch the materials on our YouTube Channel from the link below)