The universal language of music overcomes every cultural and linguistic barrier, creating bridges between peoples. It is with this vision that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) has launched the “Espresso Radio” project, an innovative initiative that brings Italian music to Iraq, translating 10 podcasts of the most iconic Italian songs with presentations and comments in Kurdish.
Italian music, famous throughout the world for its beauty and refinement, is now also disseminated in a language that has a great cultural tradition: Kurdish. Thanks to the collaboration between the MAECI, Mixfm104.3 and some local partners, the project was officially inaugurated with the opening of the Italian Music Corner at the Mixfm104.3 radio, located in Slemani, one of the most dynamic cities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and the capital of culture of the same region.
The inauguration event took place on March 13, 2025 in the presence of some notable guests, including the Kurdish pop star Diary Qaradaghi and the Director General for Cultural Affairs of the Governorate of Slemani Muhsin Hasan Baram, who underlined the importance of a cultural initiative that contributes to building a dialogue between Italian and Kurdish musical traditions.
“Espresso Radio” is a concrete demonstration of how music can overcome linguistic and cultural barriers. Italian music is appreciated all over the world, and now, thanks to Mixfm104.3, even the Kurdish people will be able to appreciate it in their mother tongue through presentations and comments. “This project not only celebrates music, but also promotes cultural cooperation and friendship between peoples”, said Consul General Tommaso Sansone in presenting and commenting on the initiative.
10 podcasts presented and commented in Kurdish, which tell the story of Italian music and its greatest artists, are now available to the public of Slemani and the entire Kurdistan region. This is only the first step towards further future cultural collaborations that will involve other cities and other joint projects between Italy and Iraq.
The “Espresso Radio” initiative is part of a broader cultural diplomacy program that the MAECI has implemented to strengthen the ties between Italy and the Kurdish world. Music, in this context, becomes the universal language that unites different peoples and fosters mutual respect and understanding.
The “Italian Music Corner” at Mixfm104.3 is not only a tool for listening to Italian music, but also a space for cultural sharing, where listeners can learn about the history, tradition and evolution of Italian music, a heritage that has profoundly influenced world culture.
With the presence of influential figures such as Diary Qaradaghi, the inauguration of the Italian Music Corner represented a particularly significant moment of union between the world of music and that of cultural institutions, laying the foundations for future projects and collaborations useful for attracting the interest of new generations in Iraq and throughout the region.
The initiative, as Muhsin Hasan Baram underlined, is only the beginning of a long series of projects that will see Italy and Kurdish culture increasingly working in synergy, creating new opportunities for constructive dialogue through art, music and culture.
In a world that needs more and more bridges and fewer and fewer walls, the “Espresso Radio” project demonstrates that music can truly be a powerful tool for connection and peace.
