From Baghdad to London: Losing and Keeping Judeo-Iraqi Arabic with Samantha Ellis

Memoirist Samantha Ellis discusses her background as the daughter of Iraqi Jewish refugees and her memoir about losing her ancestral tongue, Judeo-Iraqi Arabic. Samantha speaks about her family’s migration from Baghdad to the UK, explaining why her parents chose not to fully pass the language down to her. And she explores her evolving connection to her ancestral culture, from her heritage words and foods like amba to embracing her role as a “keeper” of Judeo-Iraqi Arabic, rather than a fluent speaker.

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Samantha Ellis is the daughter of Iraqi Jewish refugees and author of the memoir Always Carry Salt (published in the UK as Chopping Onions on my Heart) about losing her mother tongue, Judeo-Iraqi Arabic; it was shortlisted for the Wingate Award. .. Her other books include How to be a Heroine, and her plays for theatre include How to Date a Feminist and Operation Magic Carpet.