Amara bin Thuqub Interview – Amara bin Thuqub Interview

Amara bin Thuqub lived much of his early life in the marshes of Southern Iraq. When Wilfred Thesiger visited the marshes he was introduced to Amara, and Thesiger subsequently introduced Amara to Gavin Young and Gavin Maxwell. Amara helped Thesiger, Young, and Maxwell navigate the marshes and all three became friends with Amara and his family.

In 2022 Amara was located by Hassan Shiaa Alzaidawi who introduced him to the writer and explorer Leon McCarron. Amara welcomed McCarron into his house and, alongside his wife Khashiyeh and son Hadi, spoke at length about his life in the marshes. The footage from the interview was graciously provided by McCarron, and constitutes a unique resource documenting the history of the marshes. With Hassan serving as translator, Amara recounts how crops were divided and taxed by local sheikhs, how disputes were settled in areas that were isolated from the state, how marriages were arranged, his memories of Thesiger, the economic conditions of the marshes, and how he regretted leaving the marshes to live a more settled existence in Baghdad. Amara's interview gives a fascinating account of how the marshes changed over the 20th century. An article discussing the interview and various aspects of Amara's life was published by AramcoWorld and can be accessed here.