Baghdad. War. Terror. And Bingo?
When you think of Baghdad, the first thing that comes to mind is extremely unlikely to be bingo. We’ve grown so accustomed to the sight of distraught residents gathered around the location of the latest terrorist atrocity that it’s easy to forget that Baghdad was – and is – a thriving city with a rich cultural history.
The popularity of Bingo is one of the oddities that such a history has brought about. When the British were effectively occupying the state of Iraq they did what they always did – brought their cultural amenities with them. So it was that in the otherwise arid country, you would find immaculately manicured tennis courts and swimming pools.
The Aiwayh club was one such amenity.
Founded by British consulates to play host to parties for the exclusive elites of Baghdad, bingo was introduced there as light entertainment. And for some reason became one of the hottest games to play. Even under Saddam Hussein, the bingo hall continued to thrive, despite a ban on booze and the increasing marginalisation of the club’s female attendees.
Since the overthrow of Saddam in 2003, the club has steadily been reclaiming its former glamour and is once again one of the hottest spots in town.
As bingo halls close across the UK in ever-increasing numbers due to the increasing popularity of online bingo, it’s pleasing to know that if we leave nothing else behind us in Iraq, there will always be a corner of Baghdad that is forever England.
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