BASRA, Iraq — The Afro-Iraqi population is estimated to be 1.5 to 2 million (out of around 40 million Iraqis) and exists in many Iraqi cities — with the majority living in the port city of Basra, the second-largest city in Iraq after Baghdad. They also live in some of Baghdad’s neighborhoods such as the Sadr City district.

In fact, Iraqis of African descent are a big community and are barely visible in the public space or in Iraqi media. They struggle for rights, job opportunities and representation in the government.

Now, some see signs of hope with the appointment of a Black woman, 27-year-old Randa Abd al-Aziz, as a TV presenter on state media.

Abd al-Aziz, a TV news anchor with Al-Iraqiya TV, said the job opportunity — her first — came “out of the blue” when in 2021 state-owned Iraqi Media Network announced the job vacancy. She applied, along with many others, and was offered the position. “My expectation to be a journalist or TV presenter was only 6%, but when that person offered me this chance, I discussed the matter with my family and close friends, and all of them agreed and were happy to take this step."