Black in Iraq
Unbeknownst to much of the wider world, Iraq is home to a Black minority. Like the Black population of several other countries, their history is unfortunately rooted in the horrors of slavery.
For almost seven centuries, the Ottoman Empire dominated much of Europe, Africa, and southwest Asia. Slavery was practiced in various forms throughout the lifespan of the empire. African natives originally found their way to what is today considered Iraq by way of the trading port of Zanzibar. East Africans would be transported from the African continent up to various Ottoman possessions via the flourishing Indian Ocean trade. This peaked in the 17th century.
Afro-Iraqis are an oft-overlooked minority in an ancient nation that abounds with a multitude of different ethnic and religious groups. However, nowhere do they approach a numerical majority. Many members of the community speak of discrimination and economic disadvantage.
The southern city of Basra, and the nearby town of Zubair, continue to be the center for Afro-Iraqi life. Iraqis of African descent form an integral part of Basrawi society, excelling at sports, music, and other fields. Their spiritual belief system is a mix of more widespread Iraqi customs, as well as unique practices said to originate in East Africa.
