Mozhdah Jamalzadah
Mozhdah Jamalzadah (Dari/Pashto: مژده جمالزاده; born December 27, 1981) is an Afghan Canadian singer, actress, and talk show host. Jamalzadah hosts The Mozhdah Show, which often discusses social issues such as women's rights.
Mozhdah Jamalzada مژده جمالزاده | |
|---|---|
 Jamalzadah in 2021 | |
| Born | December 7, 1981 |
| Nationality | Afghan, Canadian |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Labels | Ethnobeast |
Early life
Mozhdah Jamalzadah was born on December 7, 1981 in Kabul, Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, in a family of Afghan Tajik descent. During the civil war in Afghanistan, Jamalzadah's family fled the country to neighbouring Pakistan; Jamalzadah was five years old at the time. The family later moved and resettled in Canada. She was raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she went on to study broadcast journalism at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, philosophy and political science at the University of British Columbia.
Public recognition
Jamalzadah began writing songs in the early 2000s,[1] the most prominent of these, Dokhtare Afghan (Afghan Girl), became instantly popular on Afghan TV stations and airwaves. The song called attention to past stories of strong Afghan heroines got many young Afghan men and women. The song earned Jamalzadah nominations and awards at the Afghan and International TV and radio stations. As a result, in December 2009, she was offered a position to work with an up-and-coming television station in Afghanistan, 1TV.
The Mozhdah Show
Mozhdah's political and philosophical studies gave her the drive to pursue more difficult ambitions. Once she joined 1TV, she decided she wanted to make her trip to Afghanistan fulfill her desire to make a difference. She became the host of "The Mozhdah Show" which later became the subject of international media. The concept of The Mozhdah Show was created after the Oprah Show, which gave Jamalzadah the title "Oprah of Afghanistan" by western media such as CNN and Time Magazine etc. On the Mozhdah Show, Jamalzadah and her producers created programming that addressed taboo topics in Afghan society, describing what it was like to be a woman, a child, and a person living in Afghan society. The Mozhdah Show also provided Mozhdah with the ability to explore and learn more about the current situation in Afghanistan through the eyes of Afghans.
On International Women's Day 2010, Mozhdah was asked to be the first Afghan to perform at the White House for the President, Barack Obama and First Lady Mrs. Obama, singing "Dokhtare Afghan", a song describing the bravery of Afghan women.[2][3][4][5][6]
In 2019, she had an acting role in the drama film Red Snow and had a biography of her life released by Greystone Books entitled "Voice of Rebellion".[7]
Awards
- Excellence in the Arts CCLA Gala 2012 Toronto, Ontario, Canada (for outstanding commitment and contribution to a rich, diverse and dynamic Canada)
- Best Light Song of the Year ATN Awards (2010)
- Best Female Artist ATN Awards (2012)
References
- "Afghanistan's Oprah: Mozhdah on fame, threats and why she won't live her life in fear". the Guardian. October 30, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
- "Afghanistan's 'Oprah' helps heal country's wounds". CNN. July 15, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- Baker, Aryn (August 9, 2010). "Afghan Women Fear Their Fate Amid Taliban Negotiations". Time. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- Stephenson, Mercedes (November 10, 2010). "'Oprah of Afghanistan' still fears for her life". London Free Press. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- Macdonald, Nancy (December 17, 2010). "Mozhdah: The Oprah of Afghanistan". Maclean's. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- "Une femme d'influence". Canoë (in French). March 25, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- "Voice of Rebellion". CBC Books. July 30, 2019.