Mozhdah Jamalzadah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mozhdah Jamalzada
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| مژده جمالزاده | |
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Jamalzadah at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival in 2024
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| Born | December 7, 1982 Kabul, Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
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| Nationality | Afghan, Canadian |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Musical career | |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | Ethnobeast |
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Mozhdah Jamalzadah, born on December 7, 1982, is a talented singer, actress, and model from Afghanistan and Canada. She is also known as an activist who speaks up for important causes. Mozhdah used to host a TV show in Afghanistan called The Mozhdah Show, where she talked about important social topics, especially about women's rights.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mozhdah Jamalzadah was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her parents are Bashir and Nasrin, and her family is of Afghan Tajik background. When Mozhdah was five years old, her family had to leave Afghanistan because of a civil war. They first went to neighboring Pakistan.
Later, her family moved and settled in Canada. Mozhdah grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. She studied broadcast journalism, which is about how news is reported on TV and radio. She also studied philosophy, which explores big questions about life, and political science, which is about how governments work.
Music Career
Mozhdah started writing songs in the early 2000s. Her first song, "(Sher) Bacha e Afghani," came out at the end of 2007. She also tried out for the sixth season of Canadian Idol, a singing competition, but she was eliminated during the auditions.
"Dokhtare Afghan"
After Canadian Idol, Mozhdah released a song called "Dokhtare Afghan," which means "Afghan Girl." This song quickly became very popular on Afghan TV and radio. The song celebrated the stories of strong Afghan women from the past. It earned Mozhdah many awards and nominations from TV and radio stations in Afghanistan and around the world. Her father, who she calls a supporter of equal rights for women, wrote the song.
The song includes powerful words like:
Don't break my wings, don't break my honor. I'm a proud Afghan girl.
Because of her growing fame, Mozhdah was offered a job in December 2009 at a new TV station in Afghanistan called 1TV. This job helped her gain international attention. She also made history by being the first woman to perform in Afghanistan without wearing a hijab, which is a traditional head covering.
Her first album, Act One, was released in 2009. It included "Dokhtare Afghan" and other songs.
Performing for the President
On International Women's Day in 2010, Mozhdah was asked to perform at the White House in the United States. She was the first Afghan person to sing there for the President, Barack Obama, and the First Lady, Mrs. Obama. She sang "Dokhtare Afghan," which tells about the bravery of Afghan women.
From 2012 to 2013, Mozhdah was also a presenter for Afghan Star, a popular singing competition show.
The Mozhdah Show
Mozhdah's studies in politics and philosophy made her want to achieve bigger goals. When she joined 1TV in Afghanistan, she decided she wanted to make a real difference. She became the host of "The Mozhdah Show," which soon gained international attention.
The idea for "The Mozhdah Show" was inspired by The Oprah Winfrey Show in the United States. Because of this, Western news outlets like CNN and Time magazine called Mozhdah the "Oprah of Afghanistan."
On her show, Mozhdah and her team created programs that talked about important but sometimes difficult topics in Afghan society. They discussed what it was like to be a woman, a child, and a person living in Afghanistan. Hosting the show also helped Mozhdah learn more about the daily lives and experiences of Afghans.
Other Activities
Mozhdah Jamalzadah has also worked as a model for magazines like Cosmopolitan and Asian Woman Magazine.
In 2018, she was a panelist on Canada Reads, a popular book debate show in Canada.
In 2019, Mozhdah acted in a drama film called Red Snow. Also in 2019, a book about her life, titled "Voice of Rebellion," was released by Greystone Books.
Personal Life
Mozhdah Jamalzadah describes herself as a "nerd" and an introvert, meaning she enjoys quiet time. She has also been a cat owner.
Awards
- Excellence in the Arts CCLA Gala (2012) in Toronto, Canada (for her great commitment and contribution to a rich and diverse Canada)
- Best Light Song of the Year ATN Awards (2010)
- Best Female Artist ATN Awards (2012)
