Garden of Eden

  American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS) hosted a joyous cultural event titled “The Garden of Eden” on November 7, 2022 to showcase and celebrate the University’s diverse community.   The musical event featured students and staff depicting traditional customs of a Kurdish wedding ceremony. The “bride and groom” arrived accompanied by a procession of musicians and dancers, and escorted by their family and friends to the wedding stage.     In addition to the traditional Kurdish wedding elements, the event also included a performance by Afghan and Arab students who participated in the performance as wedding guests. They showcased  cultural dances and music, adding to the diversity and richness of the event.   Throughout the event, audience members were entertained by a variety of performers, including singers, dancers, and musicians. The traditional Kurdish, Arabic, and Afghan music filled the air, and the performances were met with enthusiasm and applause from the audience, highlighting the unity and inclusivity of the AUIS community.     The event also included a competition for the best cultural performance, with a panel of judges who were tasked with choosing the winner. The performance by the Afghan and Arab students were among the contenders, along with several other traditional Kurdish dances and musical acts. After much deliberation, the judges declared the Afghan students’ as winners of the competition.    Sulaimani’s Sofi Kareem House for Culture & Heritage provided stage decoration for the event.