Pottery making in Iraq thrives amid modern challenges

STORY: Pottery making in Iraq thrives amid modern challenges DATELINE: May 28, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:15 LOCATION: Baghdad CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the pottery workshop in the city of Nahrawan 2. various of Safaa al-Kawaz making pottery in the workshop 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): SAFAA AL-KAWAZ, Owner of a pottery workshop 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): JASSIM AL-DALFI, Worker at a pottery workshop STORYLINE: Pottery making in Iraq has been an enduring profession that is deeply rooted in the civilizations of Mesopotamia. Today, it continues to thrive despite modern challenges. The demand for clay-made products stays stable as people strive to preserve this cultural heritage for future generations. Safaa al-Kawaz, the owner of a pottery workshop located about 35 km southeast of Baghdad in the Nahrawan area, specializes in crafting clay pots known as "Heb." These pots have been traditionally used for cooling drinking water, particularly in the agricultural regions of central and southern Iraq. SOUNDB

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-POTTERY-MAKING

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-POTTERY-MAKING

(230528) -- BAGHDAD, May 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Safaa al-Kawaz, a pottery workshop owner, creates a piece of work in the Nahrawan area near Baghdad, Iraq, May 27, 2023. Pottery-making in Iraq has been an enduring profession which is deeply rooted in the civilizations of Mesopotamia. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-POTTERY-MAKING

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-POTTERY-MAKING

(230528) -- BAGHDAD, May 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Safaa al-Kawaz (L), a pottery workshop owner, arranges earthenware together with an assistant in the Nahrawan area near Baghdad, Iraq, May 27, 2023. Pottery-making in Iraq has been an enduring profession which is deeply rooted in the civilizations of Mesopotamia. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-POTTERY-MAKING

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-POTTERY-MAKING

(230528) -- BAGHDAD, May 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Safaa al-Kawaz, a pottery workshop owner, creates a piece of work in the Nahrawan area near Baghdad, Iraq, May 27, 2023. Pottery-making in Iraq has been an enduring profession which is deeply rooted in the civilizations of Mesopotamia. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-POTTERY-MAKING

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-POTTERY-MAKING

(230528) -- BAGHDAD, May 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Safaa al-Kawaz, a pottery workshop owner, arranges earthenware in the Nahrawan area near Baghdad, Iraq, May 27, 2023. Pottery-making in Iraq has been an enduring profession which is deeply rooted in the civilizations of Mesopotamia. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-POTTERY-MAKING

IRAQ-BAGHDAD-POTTERY-MAKING

(230528) -- BAGHDAD, May 28, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Safaa al-Kawaz, a pottery workshop owner, is pictured at his workshop in the Nahrawan area near Baghdad, Iraq, May 27, 2023. Pottery-making in Iraq has been an enduring profession which is deeply rooted in the civilizations of Mesopotamia. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)