Who is Rahim Alhaj? What are some of the important themes in his musical life?

Rahim Alhaj is an Iraqi ‘ud player and composer who came to the U.S. as a refuge in 1991.

What will be an ideal response?

• He started studying and playing the ‘ud when he was nine years old. At first his father did not want him to become a professional musician, but eventually Rahim graduated from the Conservatory of Baghdad.
• Rahim was politically active against the regime of Saddam Hussein and also the Iran-Iraq war, for which he was imprisoned.
• "One of the side effects of war can be cultural genocide; musicians can be disempowered, and entire traditions can be wiped out."
• He left Iraq under false travel documents and subsequently came to New Mexico in the United States (1991).
• He is now composing new solo music for the ‘ud and becoming known as an Arab musician in the U.S.