Sonita Alizadeh

Known for her strong stance against forced marriages, Sonita Alizadeh is an Afghan rapper and activist born in 1996 in Herat. Growing up under Taliban rule, Sonita’s family fled to Iran to escape conflict, where she discovered a passion for music inspired by rappers like Yas and Eminem. Despite facing harsh conditions, including working as a cleaner, she educated herself and began writing her own songs. Her talent shone through when she won a US competition for a voting awareness song in Afghanistan, which helped her financially support her family. Her life changed dramatically with her song "Brides for Sale," which she used to protest against being sold into marriage by her own family. This song, created with the assistance of Iranian filmmaker Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami, caught international attention and was pivotal in altering her fate. Her journey took a significant turn when the Strongheart Group offered her a chance to move to the United States for education after her song went viral on social media. She relocated, continued her studies, and graduated from Wasatch Academy. After graduating, she enrolled at Bard College in New York. Her story was also captured in the documentary Sonita, which won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and received acclaim at various other festivals.

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