Rediscovered Photos Bring Yazidi Heritage Back to Life

Tue Oct 21 2025 01:57:16 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A collection of historic photographs documenting the Yazidi people has been rediscovered, shedding light on their rich culture and providing a poignant reminder of the destruction caused by extremists.

In a remarkable turn of events, nearly 300 old photographs featuring the Yazidi community in Iraq have been uncovered after being tucked away at the University of Pennsylvania Museum. This archive, which includes wedding photos and daily life moments, offers a glimpse into the Yazidi heritage before the devastation wrought by the Islamic State. The images serve as a powerful cultural memory, helping descendants reconnect with their lost history, as they work to resist the attempts to erase their identity. Exhibits are being organized to share these historical treasures with the Yazidi diaspora and celebrate their rich traditions.

PHILADELPHIA — During the 1930s, archaeologists in northern Iraq formed bonds with the local Yazidi community, capturing their daily life in photographs. These images, rediscovered after the devastating attacks by the Islamic State, are now giving the Yazidi people a chance to reconnect with their lost heritage.

Among the thousands of photographs stored at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, one stood out: a Yazidi shrine, lost to destruction. In 2022, doctoral student Marc Marin Webb began excavating the museum's archives, leading to the creation of a visual archive highlighting Yazidi culture and identity, which has faced genocide and loss.

Ansam Basher, a Yazidi woman now living in England, expressed her joy upon seeing wedding photos of her grandparents, reminding her of her family's history before the devastation caused by the Islamic State attacks. More than just a collection of images, this archive serves as a powerful resistance against the efforts to erase the Yazidi culture.

Exhibitions showcasing these photographs have begun, with the first exhibit coinciding with Yazidi New Year celebrations, allowing community members to experience their heritage through the images of their ancestors. The rediscovered photos not only provide a glimpse into the past but also highlight the resilience of the Yazidi people against a backdrop of persecution.