Slemani, founded in 1784 by the Kurdish prince Ibrahim Pasha Baban, who named it after his father, Sleman Pasha, has always been the center of great historians, politicians, journalists, scholars, artists, singers, poets and writers such as Nali, Mahwi, Bekas and Piramerd. The city is the largest in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with a population of 2,486,486 citizens and a total territory of 21,071 km2. Alongside
arts and culture, its primary industries are agriculture, education, healthcare,
and tourism, with developing fields of manufacturing and renewable energy.
Kashkul, with Slemani Governor, its Directorate of Culture, and major literary stakeholders in the city applied to designate Slemani as UNESCO’s Creative City of Literature. On October 31, 2019, UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network welcomed Slemani into a global network of 246 cities. The network covers seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Arts, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music. The Creative Cities are working together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level.
Poetry is a powerful act of resistance, resilience and cultural revival. PEN International’s 5th Video Poem Marathon now features over 260 poems in 160 languages,
Date 5-2-2025, in Al-Ahsa City, UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, Slemani Governor Dr. Haval Abubakir, upon the official invitation of the esteemed
The First International Scientific Conference of Mawlawinasi (the Study of Mawlawi) was held in Slemani on 11-12/12/2024, with the attendance of Slemani Deputy Governor, the
On November 28, 2024, under the supervision and attendance of the esteemed Minister of Culture and Youth of the Kurdistan Regional Government, along with the
Slemani UNESCO Creative City of Literature extends heartfelt congratulations to the distinguished Kurdish writer Bachtyar Ali and to all writers of Slemani, Kurdistan, and the
Upon a formal invitation from Mr. Eric Falt, the UNESCO Representative for the Maghreb, the coordinator of the Slemani UNESCO City of Literature Office participated
