WATCH: Sulaimani's oldest market keeps its ties to the past
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Deep within the busy modern bazaar of Sulaimani are stairs leading down below street level and past stalls of exotic spices, embroidery tools, and beauty products that make up the city's oldest market.
Qaisary Naqib, as it is known, was founded in 1900 by prominent Kurdish figure Sheikh Mustafa Naqib, uncle to Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji, once proclaimed King of Kurdistan after leading a series of uprisings against the British in Iraq after the World War I.
“Many people come to visit the market. A lot of them are from southern and central Iraq or are foreigners,” says Mr. Ismael, or "Ismael the Attar" (spice dealer), as he is known. His shop is 80 years-old, he tells Kurdistan 24 in between mixing spices and tending to customers.
Shops in Qaisary Naqib often last generations, as they are typically handed down to merchants' children if they are interested in keeping the tradition and look of the old market alive, a practice that sets the market apart from others.
Children of the shop-owners can sometimes be seen accompanying their fathers, especially during the summer months when school is out, to learn about the history and nuances of working in this particular market.
Some of them grow up with a passion, as one told Kurdistan 24, "to protect and further" Qaisary Naqib's reputation, "to increase traffic to our market, and to better serve our customers."
“A nice thing for women who do embroidery work is that they can find anything they need here,” said one customer.
Many female customers crowd in for the large selection of household items, women’s clothing, and beauty products. Tailors of women’s clothing also regularly visit the shops to pick up supplies for working in both modern styles and traditional Kurdish clothing.
All practical business aside, the uniqueness of Qaisary Naqib is really the tradition; the characteristic look kept for so long.
As Ismael the Attar said, "People are always taking pictures."
Editing by John J. Catherine