Mozhdah Jamalzadah

Mozhdah JamalzadahdefendedThe Boat People by Sharon Balaon Canada Reads 2018.Forgiveness by Mark Sakamoto, defended by Jeanne Beker, was the winner of Canada Reads 2018.

• Meet the Canada Reads 2018 contenders
• Canada Reads 2018 Day One: Watch the replay
• HowMozhdah Jamalzadah is preparing for Canada Reads

Dubbed the "Oprah of Afghanistan," Kabul-born, Vancouver-raised Mozhdah Jamalzadah came to Canada when she was just five years old. When Mozhdah's father wrote a protest poem inspired by an acid attack on a group of Kandahar schoolgirls, Mozhdah set it to music and turned it into a hit. Afghan Girlwas 2009's song of the year in Afghanistan, and in 2010 Mozhdah was invited to the White House to perform it for Michelle and Barack Obama. The attention led to a hosting gig at a TV station in Afghanistan. The Mozhdah Show focused on families, tackling taboo subjects from child labour to divorce. These bold conversations led to death threats, and Mozhdah was advised to return to Canada. Today, Mozhdah continues to release new musicand contributes to charitable work benefiting orphans supported by the AziziFoundation.

• Why Mozhdah Jamalzadah thinks The Boat People should win Canada Reads
• Mozhdah Jamalzadah on the humanity of The Boat People

Canada Reads

Watch the 2018 Canada Reads panellists & authors in conversation with Gill Deacon

7 years ago

Duration 1:07:45

The Canada Reads defenders and authors took the stage in Toronto to discuss the five books that will be championed on CBC's battle of the books from March 26-29, 2018. Here and Now's Gill Deacon hosted the event in the Glenn Gould Studio.

Mozhdah Jamalzadah on the humanity of The Boat People

7 years ago

Duration 1:12

On Day One of Canada Reads, Mozhdah Jamalzadah makes her case for The Boat People by Sharon Bala.

Canada Reads 2018: The battle of the books begins!

7 years ago

Duration 44:08

Let the battle of the books begin! Canada Reads is CBC's annual literary debate show.

Canada Reads: 'You never know what's going to happen'

7 years ago

Duration 2:09

The 2018 Canada Reads panellists share a few strategies and discuss their competition style.

Afghanistan's Oprah

13 years ago

Duration 3:17

Television is a source of tension in Afghanistan, a tug-of-war between Western and conservative Afghan styles. Susan Ormiston interviews a TV host who personifies those tensions.

Other interviews

TV Icon in Exile

13 years ago

Duration 2:54

Afghan-Canadian TV icon Mozhdah Jamalzadah reacts to Afghan President Hamid Karzai's decision to support clerics who say women are inferior to men.

The Canada Reads 2018 contenders

• Mozhdah Jamalzadah, defending The Boat People by Sharon Bala
• Tahmoh Penikett, defending American War by Omar El Akkad
• Greg Johnson, defending Precious Cargo by Craig Davidson
• Jeanne Beker, defending Forgiveness by Mark Sakamoto
• Jully Black, defending The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline