Creating Worlds Through Song: Art and Activism with Dashni Morad

In this episode of The Amargi Mosaic, host Elif Sarican speaks with Kurdish singer, songwriter, and activist Dashni Morad about creating worlds through art and what Kurdistan she wants to imagine. They discuss the difficult balance between the loneliness women face in collective societies and the dangers of hyper-individualism, exploring how Kurdish women can honour community whilst being themselves. Morad examines how media objectifies women—from YPJ fighters portrayed to avoid discussing Rojava’s political project to her own experience being labelled an “angry feminist”—and how women artists can ensure their actual message gets through. The conversation reveals the lonely struggle of building a career from scratch as a Kurdish woman artist, working in jewellery shops to fund performances and travelling cheaply to tiny German villages, facing constant judgment whilst keeping the fire burning.

Dashni Morad is a Kurdish singer, songwriter, television presenter, and founder of #FemaleVoicesoftheWorld. Her humanitarian work during the ISIS crisis supported Yazidi refugees, and she performs in Kurdish, Arabic, and English.