HJirok - Hani Mojtahedy

Beneath the waterfalls of the Zagros Mountains, lives HJirok – a mythical maternal figure who awaits the return of those who will accept her gifts of life and fertility.  

The mountain streams in the Valley of Figs have long since dried up. People have to hike far to get water. The ghostly voice of "HJirok" can still be heard from a temple in the mountains, telling of the former abundance of water. Hani Mojtahedy explains that she has a spiritual connection to this Iraqi region.

 

– Julian Weber about the album Hjirok in the taz

HJirok calls on us to reflect on the cyclical relationship between all living things.

Hani Mojtahedy is a well-known Kurdish artist from Sanandaj, a small city in the Iranian province Kordestân. Mojtahedy studied traditional Persian music after which her professional singing career started in 2000. Despite the obstacles imposed by religious laws in Iran, Mojtahedy tried to live her life the way she wanted and gave several concerts, limited in number and for solely female audiences. She recognized that the lack of artistic and personal freedom was preventing her from truly being able to express herself and moved to Berlin in 2004. Ever since, she has brought out two albums, more than twenty singles, and several music videos. Moreover, she has performed in TV shows, concerts and festivals all over the world with a mix of traditional and original repertoire in which she brings together traditional Persian vocals and Kurdish lyrics. Mojtahedy has developed herself into a household name in Kurdistan and a rising star in the world music scene.  

You can find her Instagram account here.