Music store opens in Nasiriyah as owner aims to revive local traditions

DHI QAR — A musician, trainer, and instrument trader has opened a small shop in Nasiriyah dedicated to selling, repairing, and teaching music — part of a growing local effort to revive the city’s artistic traditions.

Located opposite the entrance to the city’s public park in the Al-Mutanazah neighborhood, the shop has been operating for about a year. Its owner, Ammar Salem, told 964media, “After graduating from the Institute of Fine Arts, I didn’t wait for a government job. I opened Shuba’d Center.”

Salem said early demand was limited but has steadily grown as more people began buying instruments. “Private schools are interested in music, so I’ll bring in child-friendly instruments like small violins and pianos to promote music activities. The goal is to create a generation that loves music and learns it, especially since Nasiriyah has many music teachers,” he said.

The store offers a range of string instruments for amateur musicians. “All instruments, Western and Eastern — like the oud and violin — are available,” Salem said. “If they’re not found in Iraq, we import them.”

He also highlighted the city’s deep cultural roots. “Music in Nasiriyah is part of our heritage. It’s deeply rooted, and over time, more talented musicians emerge, but they don’t get the media coverage they deserve,” he said.

Salem plans to expand his work beyond the shop. “Soon we’ll start free music classes and form a choir to revive old songs from Nasiriyah, like those of Hudhairi Abu Aziz and Talib Al-Qaragholi,” he said.

“There will be a music revolution in Nasiriyah,” Salem added, “driven by young people who learn, play, and love life and music.”