Pharaohs bring color to Egypt's trade festival in Kirkuk
The Egyptian Shopping Festival in Kirkuk, northern Iraq, has become one of the province's most notable cultural and commercial gatherings, evolving into an annual event that blends trade with art and heritage.
Now in its sixth edition, the festival features a wide range of products, including foodstuffs, cosmetics, furniture, clothing, and traditional crafts, with organizers noting that prices were kept close to local Iraqi levels to appeal directly to consumers.
Festival Director Hazem Fathi told Shafaq News that the exhibition is not limited to Egyptian goods but also includes products from Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and other Arab countries, which has given it a distinctly regional character and drawn strong participation from both Kirkuk residents and visitors from other provinces.
Alongside its commercial offerings, the festival presented a cultural program that featured the Pharaohs Troupe in traditional costume, the Umm Kulthum Ensemble performing timeless classics, and displays of Lebanese singer Fairouz and Egyptian actor Adel Emam.
'This participation made people feel as if they were walking through Cairo or Alexandria,' exhibitor Mahmoud al-Masri told our agency, while fellow participant Wadie al-Masri described the event as a celebration of Arab cultural exchange and a valuable boost to Kirkuk's trade.
Shoppers shared similar impressions. Asmaa Khalid characterized the festival as both 'an economic outlet for Kirkuk's market' and a forum that fosters Arab interaction. Families filled the venue, turning it into a communal as well as commercial occasion where children explored interactive stalls and adults benefited from affordable offers amid fluctuating market prices.
By combining shopping with artistic performances and culinary traditions, the festival has established itself as a fixture in Kirkuk's calendar, reinforcing the city's position as both a commercial hub and a cultural crossroads.
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Shafaq News
10 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Pharaohs bring color to Egypt's trade festival in Kirkuk
Shafaq News – Kirkuk The Egyptian Shopping Festival in Kirkuk, northern Iraq, has become one of the province's most notable cultural and commercial gatherings, evolving into an annual event that blends trade with art and heritage. Now in its sixth edition, the festival features a wide range of products, including foodstuffs, cosmetics, furniture, clothing, and traditional crafts, with organizers noting that prices were kept close to local Iraqi levels to appeal directly to consumers. Festival Director Hazem Fathi told Shafaq News that the exhibition is not limited to Egyptian goods but also includes products from Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and other Arab countries, which has given it a distinctly regional character and drawn strong participation from both Kirkuk residents and visitors from other provinces. Alongside its commercial offerings, the festival presented a cultural program that featured the Pharaohs Troupe in traditional costume, the Umm Kulthum Ensemble performing timeless classics, and displays of Lebanese singer Fairouz and Egyptian actor Adel Emam. 'This participation made people feel as if they were walking through Cairo or Alexandria,' exhibitor Mahmoud al-Masri told our agency, while fellow participant Wadie al-Masri described the event as a celebration of Arab cultural exchange and a valuable boost to Kirkuk's trade. Shoppers shared similar impressions. Asmaa Khalid characterized the festival as both 'an economic outlet for Kirkuk's market' and a forum that fosters Arab interaction. Families filled the venue, turning it into a communal as well as commercial occasion where children explored interactive stalls and adults benefited from affordable offers amid fluctuating market prices. By combining shopping with artistic performances and culinary traditions, the festival has established itself as a fixture in Kirkuk's calendar, reinforcing the city's position as both a commercial hub and a cultural crossroads.
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Beyond Entertainment: Are modern anime and cartoons rewiring Iraqi children's minds?
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She noted to Shafaq News that some rush home to watch films, avoid school activities, and occasionally imitate violent behavior. 'This indicates a flaw in their personalities, and parents must address the issue quickly.' Educational researcher Faleh al-Quraishi explains to Shafaq news that modern animated shows can enhance language skills and spark imagination. Yet, he warns, their sheer volume and fast-paced delivery can overwhelm young minds — noting that Disney alone produces around 500 films annually. Al-Quraishi cites content trends that concern many Iraqi parents: 'About 95% of these productions promote violence or aggression, and some attempt to embed inappropriate themes in children's minds, including material on sexual behavior.' From a health perspective, al-Quraishi adds that excessive viewing can lead to reduced physical activity, obesity, bone deformities, eye and hearing problems, and psychological issues such as apathy, depression, and neglect of hobbies and abilities. These warnings align with World Health Organization guidance, which recommends no screen time for infants and less than an hour daily for children under five, and with American Academy of Pediatrics advice urging families to set clear media plans and watch with young children. Moral and Cultural Concerns Women's and children's rights activist Lina Ali argues that many modern cartoons undermine children's perception, focus, and emotional stability. Unlike older productions with clear moral lessons, she says, much of today's content 'glorifies evil, blurs gender distinctions, and includes subtle sexual themes.' Ali points, in an interview with Shafaq News, to studies showing that background music and sound effects can also influence perception and concentration, sometimes correlating with declining academic performance. 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Psychology professor Manahil al-Saleh describes childhood as 'one of the most important and sensitive stages' for learning and personality development. She notes that animated films, with their appealing visuals, leave strong impressions and often feature aggressive characters that foster fear, anxiety, and negative behaviors. 'Most children watch cartoons alone and gravitate toward programs featuring killing,' she tells Shafaq News, adding that reactions can range from fear to direct imitation — a pattern worsened when families fail to set limits on both content and screen time. From Homes to Classrooms: Possible Solutions Teacher Hikmat recommends parents reintroduce carefully selected classics with moral and educational value, avoiding exaggerated, unrealistic characters such as those in Masha and the Bear or SpongeBob SquarePants. On the other hand, Al-Quraishi suggests introducing 'screen literacy' as a school subject, teaching children how to recognize harmful content and manage viewing habits — an approach in line with UNESCO's push for media literacy worldwide. Experts agree that the most effective strategy is not a total ban, but a balanced approach: choosing age-appropriate content, setting daily time limits, co-viewing to guide interpretation, and keeping certain spaces in the home device-free. In Iraq, where the next generation is growing up with unprecedented exposure to global media, the challenge is not simply to shield children from harmful influences, but to equip them — and their parents — with the tools to navigate a fast-changing digital landscape.
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Stitch by stitch: Assyrian Tiari costume weaves centuries of identity
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