Arts & Entertainment

In the heart of the Nineveh Plain, nestled in the ancient town of Alqosh, a masterful craftsman weaves stories and tradition with every stitch. Meet Thamir Yousif Qoda, a man who has dedicated his life to the art of crafting traditional garments that hold the essence of Chaldean, Assyrian, Kurdish, Arab, and Yazidi cultures.

The Chaldean Community Foundation, in partnership with the Chaldean Heritage Center in West Bloomfield (Shenandoah Country Club), took the initiative to host the second annual Mesopotamian Writers Conference (Beth al-Nahrain) on Saturday, November 11 in the Wireless Vision Gymnasium located in the Chaldean Community Foundation building in Sterling Heights.

From November 3 through November 5, pieces from select artists were displayed at the Chaldean Community Foundation for the 2nd Annual Beth Nahrain Art Show. Featured artists included Reni Stephan, Sabah Wazi, Azhr Matti, Wilson Sarkis, Mark Georgies, Cassidy Azzow, Fr. Patrick Setto, Emad Tammo, Habib Hannona and Savannah Meyer. Proceeds from the event benefited the victims of the Bakhdida wedding fire through a fundraising effort supported by Nineveh Rising.

Reni Stephan, 42, was born in Baghdad and moved to the U.S. when he was 11. He said his family has plenty of musical talent, and while he shares a love of music, his artistry is more visual in nature. Stephan is a sculptor and painter who owns the Studio Lamassu Art Studio on 15 Mile near Ryan Road in Sterling Heights.

Nearly 700 attendees had the opportunity to experience the land between two rivers through paintings, woodwork and sculptures at the 2nd Annual Beth Nahrain Art Show held at the Chaldean Community Foundation November 3-5.

Featured artists included Reni Stephan, Sabah Wazi, Azhr Matti, Wilson Sarkis, Mark Georgies, Cassidy Azzow, Fr. Patrick Setto, Emad Tammo, Habib Hannona and Savannah Meyer. Proceeds from the event benefited the victims of the Bakhdida wedding fire through a fundraising effort supported by Nineveh Rising.

A foreign language coach in Hollywood, Chaldean American Sam Sako is often called on by producers to coach some of the world’s best known on-screen talent, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Omar Sharif, Mark Strong, Russell Crowe, Oscar Isaac, Brad Dourif, Tim Roth, Scott Glenn, Danny Trejo, and Freddy Rodriguez.

First generation Assyrian-Chaldean songwriter and poet Tamara Mechael talks about what it’s like being a faithful Catholic in an industry that likes to take the easy way. She was born in Detroit, but Mechael was not cut out to be a mechanic or work in science like her highly educated parents. Tamara and her sister Farrah were born to be artists.

Born in Alqosh, Iraq, Raad Hakeem, 32, has been playing the tamboura since the age of eleven. Known in Turkish as saz, the tamboura is a musical stringed instrument with a long neck and round body. It belongs to the lute family and is known for its rich, resonant sound. It is commonly used in Indian classical music, although it has found its way into various genres of world music and fusion styles due to its unique tone and versatile nature.

Paul Elia burst onto the stage with a bright smile and an air of star quality. He looked out at the intimate and tightly-packed room at Detroit House of Comedy. This was his dream: to bring a successful show to his hometown, draw a sizable crowd, and return favor to the Chaldean community that raised him.

Sally was born in Kirkuk, Iraq but spent most of her childhood in Baghdad before immigrating to the United States about 50 years ago. Going back a few generations, her family roots lie further east. Sally’s maternal grandmother, Rosa, grew up in an area that now falls within the borders of Iran, in a vibrant Chaldean community that remains to this day. It was from this region where Biryani, a long-time favorite Chaldean dish, first emerged.

When Fadi Y. Sitto found his calling, the switch was immediate. He would stop writing articles for magazines and press releases for corporate firms. He had no choice but to follow where his heart pulled him. He would become a poet.

The First-Time Filmmaker Sessions Online Film Festival is proud to present The Great American Family, a documentary that sheds light on the injustices of the American criminal justice system. Directed, written, and produced by Weam Namou, this film tells the story of Dawn Hanna, who was sentenced to six years in federal prison for having conspired to send telecom equipment to Iraq during the sanctions.

Sunday, March 19 marked the 20th year anniversary of the 2003 US-Invasion of Iraq. That day Detroit Public Theatre held a watch party for the film adaptation of Heather Raffo’s 9 Pars of Desire, an award-winning one-woman show which premiered almost 20 years ago in London and Off-Broadway, later becoming a global theatrical phenomenon. The date also marked three years since Raffo’s father, Georges, passed away.

April marks the Babylonian Akitu Festival, the New Year in ancient Mesopotamia. Professor Amanda H. Podany describes the history of that festival in her book Weavers, Scribes and Kings. She also shares other important details related to the study of Chaldeans.

The best brands evoke the emotions of their customers by tapping into their hearts and minds. In this book, marketing and brand strategist Lydia Michael of Blended Collective breaks down the process of building culturally inclusive, long-lasting consumer-brand relationships.

Ivan Jaddou has taken anything but a traditional Chaldean path. He forged his own way, forcing himself into one of the world’s toughest industries, mainly through sheer hard work and inspired drive. At every turn, Jaddou proved that he can compete with and should be ranked among the world’s top shoe designers.