'The memory of our wounds and thoughts'

Nasiriyah’s ‘Café of Intellectuals’ faces demolition amid city rejuvenation plans

2024-08-17 | 20:47

DHI QAR—In a move that has stirred unrest among cultural circles, the municipality of Nasiriyah in Dhi Qar is planning to demolish the iconic “Café of Intellectuals” as part of a broader initiative to renovate Al-Habboubi Street in the city center. This café has long been celebrated as a traditional gathering place for the intellectual elite of Dhi Qar and beyond.

For decades, the café has stood as a cultural landmark, attracting artists, writers, and intellectuals. With the street’s planned restoration, patrons are calling for the café’s preservation, arguing its cultural significance outweighs the need for structural changes. “No matter what happens, our spirits and memories will remain here,” they remarked.

Ali Al-Shayyal, head of the Union of Writers in Dhi Qar, voiced his concerns, stating, “We recently heard that the café will be demolished and handed over to investors. I believe it will be turned into medical clinics or restaurants, much like other important buildings in the city.”

Al-Shayyal highlighted the local government’s lack of support for cultural endeavors, advocating for a dedicated space for intellectuals. “Is it too much to ask for a café dedicated to intellectuals from all walks of life?” he questioned.

The café not only serves as a cultural hub but also as a beacon for visitors to Nasiriyah, hosting notable figures in literature, art, and poetry. “We do not oppose development,” Al-Shayyal added, “but we hope for a place that befits our cultural heritage.”

“Here lies the memory of our wounds and thoughts, and the remembrance of our friends who have gone to exile and those who have passed to the graves. Our spirits will remain here in the Café of Intellectuals,” Al-Shayyal concluded.

Abdul Khudr Salman, a local poet, also emphasized the café’s significance over its 30-year history as a nexus for the city’s cultural life. “Many prominent literary figures have frequented or visited this café. We call for its preservation or its restoration in a manner that maintains its historical significance,” he said.

Hassan Rabea, one of the café’s owners, shared that the municipality had repeatedly requested vacating the premises. “We hoped the street and the surrounding shops and cafés would be renovated to resemble Baghdad’s Al-Mutanabbi Street,” he said, referring to the culturally rich and historically significant street in Baghdad, known as a hub for intellectuals and literary figures. It long been known as the heart of Baghdad’s intellectual and literary life. Often referred to as the “street of books,” it is lined with bookstores, bookstalls, and cafés that serve as gathering places for writers, poets, intellectuals, and students.

“We are not against development or renewal, but we urge the authorities to ensure that the new project includes a space for the café so it can remain an iconic meeting place for Nasiriyah’s intellectuals and writers,” Rabea concluded.