Böcker av Weam Namou

Little Baghdad is a loving, historical, and personal account of an indigenous group of people who were forced out of their ancestral home, Mesopotamia. They found refuge in the United States, specifically Sterling Heights where according to archaeologists Native Americans lived more than 11,000 years ago.Through her dreamlike poetic travels into homes, museums, and neighborhoods, Weam Namou, author, filmmaker, and journalist tells the story of how this ancient and unique group known as Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians who still speak a modern form of Aramaic) have survived decades of oppression and genocide to find a sacred home in a city nicknamed "Little Baghdad."She moves from place to place with the knowledge, wisdom, and innocence that makes her dive deep from her own cultural lineage to our shared human lineage. Along the way the reader experiences the wonders of this group, the Chaldeans, who though mentioned in history books and even the Old Testament, are not seen and heard in our modern society, despite their contributions to their surrounding communities.

The Oneida Man embarks on a captivating journey that explores the unique and thought-provoking friendship between the author, a woman of Chaldean descent, and a Native American man. Set against the backdrop of a city in Michigan nicknamed "Little Baghdad," this tale delves into the complexities of cultural identity, language, and the power of human connection. The story invites readers on an intimate and illuminating journey of self-discovery and cross-cultural explorations. With its rich tapestry of conversations, cultural insights, and heartfelt revelations, the story offers a stirring testament to the power of friendship, understanding, and the enduring bonds that transcend cultural boundaries. From discussions on the intricacies of Native American tribes and the challenges of preserving cultural heritage to contemplations on history, justice, and the human condition, these conversations offer a rare glimpse into the profound wisdom shared between two individuals from different walks of life.

In Witnessing a Genocide, Weam Namou shares her visit to Iraq in 2000, a journey where she embraced Easter with relatives, remembered her magical childhood in Baghdad, and enjoyed her ancestors’ town of Telkaif in Mosul. The trip, held dear to her heart and preserved through pictures of extravagant picnics, tours of ancient monasteries and other lively explorations, is soon drowned by the events that follow the 2003 US-led invasion.Like the rest of the Iraqi American community, Namou watches from a distance the destruction and devastation befalling her birth country. The violence and persecution of Iraqi Christians causes most of her relatives still living in Iraq to flee. The emergence of the Islamic State further ravages this community. But Iraqi Christians are not the only targets. Over three million Iraqis, of different ethnic and religious background, have been displaced by the conflict in Iraq since January 2014.

The War Generation, the first of the Iraqi Americans book series, is a collection of 36 articles that Weam Namou wrote over the years which paint a picture of Iraqi Americans’ political and social situation and their struggles. Namou writes, “The views that leaders, politicians and activists I interviewed had about Iraq and the United States fascinated me, especially since their views largely differed from, or were not found in, mainstream media. Given these people’s direct connection to both countries, I felt it was important that their stories and perspectives be heard.”A full color book, The War Generation has a large focus on Christianity and the biblical city of Nineveh because, after the 2003 US-led invasion, Christians were heavily targeted by fundamentalists. Many leaders foresaw the genocide that began in June 2014 against this group of people and tried for over a decade to establish an autonomous region in Nineveh for Christians and other minorities in Iraq. Their efforts were in vain.