Ten years of Iraq’s only English language radio station
Erbil, the city I have been based in and I have called home for more than a decade now, is growing and evolving in incredible ways. Some roads are no longer familiar, some areas seem like a different country, and some facilities were only a dream a few years back.
One part of life in Erbil that has remained constant for me as someone who is a returnee from abroad has been Babylon FM, the radio station I listen to on my commutes every morning. Over the years the commutes have changed from going to work to dropping off the children to school, but the radio frequency always remained the same.
I speak to Noor Matti, who is known in the local community as Noor Babylon; when you do a job out of pure passion for ten years, it seems to replace your second name. “In 2011 Babylon Media launched Babylon FM as a jazz radio station. It was changed in 2012, when I joined; we changed it entirely to an all-English radio station. It remains as Iraq’s only all English radio station.”
Noor explains that there were a few reasons for creating an all-English radio station. “The first, to connect Erbil to the rest of the world, culturally, and connect foreigners in the city to the local community. Second, we wanted to target young people…to prepare them for their future jobs, to open minds [by discussing different topics] and accept people who are different.” He adds that the Breakfast Club, a morning show on the station, was a tool to reach the objectives of Babylon FM.
Babylon FM’s website describes the Breakfast Club as “Noor, Dalawi and Em wake up every single morning to replace your alarm clocks and talk about everything that happens around the world! You can listen to the craziness and win giveaways all week long from 8 am!”
There have been times where I have stopped the car on the side of the road just so I can text my answer to the Breakfast Club’s question of the day, or my thoughts on their topic of the day. And sometimes, like an insane woman, I have laughed out loud while on my own in the car. Funny is an understatement when hosts Noor and Dalawi clash thoughts or retell stories. The familiarity of the drum roll, the ‘halhala’ sound of a woman, and the round of applause is a burst of energy and happiness in the early mornings.
When listening it is evident Babylon FM has a purpose, and as Noor always reminds listeners it is a “community radio.” Noor says the breakfast club provides entertainment for people as they start their day in the morning. Considering the radio frequencies in Erbil are usually news, the light morning show is unique and unlike any of its kind.
The interview segment each day differs, from the Deputy Prime Minister, heads of missions, General Consuls to different countries around the world, local and international organisations to animal advocates and locals who create art at home; flea market, mental health, give-aways on a food delivery application, art gallery, handcraft, gender-based violence, donuts, red cross, and cat café are the most recent interviews on the Breakfast Club – no morning is the same.
Through the interview segment, Noor says him and his colleagues have met some of the most amazing people over the years. “Everyone is unique in this city in their own ways, and they all deserve to be given the spotlight to shine… Babylon’s contribution to the community in the morning show is having these individuals come and talk about themselves, their activities, start-ups and have in return received much support. It could be something as simple as a person who draws, and then after we have them on the show, people start ordering from them, encouraging them to keep going.”
The daily and weekly prizes, competitions and the regular names who text for the morning ‘shout outs’ have created a feeling of familiarity and connection even among listeners.
The hosts have rich backgrounds, and some are former immigrants. Noor Matti grew up in Metro Detroit as an immigrant and began what was then ‘Noor in the Morning’ show in October of 2012 on Babylon FM. Over the years this became the Breakfast Club.
Mivan Mandalawi, going by the radio name Dalawi, is a co-host, was born in Erbil, raised in Australia, and does the Breakfast Club for the love of talking. In fact, the hosts do not see the Breakfast Club or the work at the radio station as a job, as much as it is a passion and enjoyment.
Em, Marian Zaito, began working at Babylon FM at the age of sixteen, now is a host and a producer.
Over the years the personalities of the hosts and co-hosts have shined through to listeners. As listeners we have grown to know the hosts well and appreciate their completely different personalities. Yet whoever is hosting in the morning, we know there is sarcasm, lots of humour and a love for people (and talking).
In the morning it is the Breakfast Club; and during the day the social media platforms, discussions, posts and comments connect a certain group of people within the community. At any given time there are about 65,000 listeners, says Noor. “But the amount of different people is about 400,000 people if you also count online listeners that tune in from different parts of Kurdistan, Iraq and the rest of the world.” Erbil’s large expat community are also fond listeners.
In an ever-growing city, in an era of globalisation and modernisation, little did we know, a simple morning show on a radio channel can connect members of the community in incredible ways.
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I dedicate this piece to Noor Matti, who since writing this article, after ten years has now handed over hosting of the Breakfast Club and running of Babylon FM to his colleagues, while he runs his organisation to assist vulnerable communities. He sometimes appears on the show. Ten years of Noor Matti has been our dose of energy, laughter and tears as this city has grown and transformed. Through difficult and happy days, we woke up to his and his colleague’s voices and thoughts.
By: Sazan M. Mandalawi, a facilitator, a PhD candidate in the field of education, and a passionate blogger herself focusing on culture and the creative scene in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Copyright photos: Babylon FM