Iraqi musician Hamid Al-Saadi fights to preserve centuries-old maqam tradition
Exiled master vocalist releases first album in 25 years as concerns grow over survival of Iraq’s unique musical heritage
NEW YORK, United States (MNTV) — Iraqi maqam, a centuries-old musical tradition rooted in the cultural history of Baghdad, faces an uncertain future as its foremost living master, Hamid Al-Saadi, warns that he may be the final link in its unbroken lineage.
Al-Saadi, 67, is widely recognized as the only vocalist to have mastered the complete repertoire of 56 maqams—a musical form unique to Iraq and inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
His latest album, Maqam Al-Iraq marks his first recording in a quarter-century and includes two original compositions—rare additions to the canon in over 100 years.
“I remain the last link,” said Al-Saadi, who now lives in exile in Brooklyn, New York. “There’s no one else alive who knows the entire tradition or who’s actively working to preserve and pass it on.”
The Iraqi maqam traces its roots to the Abbasid period (750–1258 AD), when Baghdad was a thriving center of Islamic civilization.
Unlike the broader Arabic maqam, which refers to modal structures, the Iraqi maqam comprises fixed compositions with complex melodic and rhythmic forms. Each performance allows the singer to choose different poetry, adding emotional diversity and interpretative depth.
Maqam Mukhalif, one of the most distinct compositions in the tradition, is believed to have originated after the 1258 Mongol invasion of Baghdad, capturing the grief of a city in ruins.
“Most maqams were born out of historical suffering,” Al-Saadi explained. “But they can adapt to modern realities—that’s how they survive.”
Al-Saadi became a prominent performer by the 1980s, eventually being named the successor of legendary vocalist Yusuf Omar, who had inherited the tradition from Mohammed Al-Gubbanchi and Ahmed Zaidan before him.
However, the 1990 Gulf War, ensuing sanctions, and Iraq’s civil collapse devastated the country’s cultural institutions.
In 1999, Al-Saadi fled to London and later authored a detailed text on maqam music. “After the war, there was no way to survive as a musician,” he said.
Al-Saadi now leads Safaafir, the only Iraqi maqam ensemble in the US, alongside ElSaffar, his sister Dena ElSaffar, and percussionist Tim Moore. The group recorded Maqam Al-Iraq through Maqam Studio, a preservation initiative led by ElSaffar.
The album includes a newly composed maqam of longing inspired by Al-Saadi’s years in exile and based on poetry by acclaimed Iraqi writer Ni’mah Hussain. “I missed my homeland, my people,” said Al-Saadi. “That yearning lives in every note.”
Despite his ongoing work, Al-Saadi remains unsure about the future of maqam music. “I don’t know who will carry this forward,” he said, “but I had to do my part.”
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