Shahin Najafi
Encyclopedia
Shahin Najafi (born in 1980 in Bandar-e Anzali
, Iran
) is an Iranian musician, poet and singer currently residing in Germany. He began his music career in Iran before emigrating to Germany in 2005.
Najafi's songs cover a range of themes, such as theocracy
, poverty, sexism
, censorship
, child labour, execution and drug addiction. He strives to use poetic, literary, philosophical and political elements in his music.
, Iran
. When he was six years old his father died and later his brother became a drug addict and also died. He began writing poetry as a teenager and began learning the guitar in the classical
and flamenco
styles at the age of eighteen. He then became an underground artist in Iran
, performing in both rock and Spanish music styles, working with various bands.
He studied sociology
at the University of Gilan
and openly expressed his opinions about the university, leading to him getting expelled.
before his immigration to Germany but he was banned for singing in Iran by the Iranian government after his second music show. He was also the head of «Inan» music band in Germany. Then he joined to «Tapesh 2012» music band. «Tapesh 2012» were welcomed by Persian broadcasters and the international media by political and social songs and poems of shahin najafi.
An article published in No. 19194 of Kayhan
(Pro-regime/conservative newspaper) on 29 September 2008 and its content was critical to the «Tapesh 2012» activities. Kayhan
published the article as Establishing democracy with drum & circle title and wrote:
. The supervisor of «Tapesh 2012» later apologised to the Shahin Najafi and said: the song has been inadvertently released in Voice of America TV
. Shahin Najafi has accepted the apology.
. In this context, he released "Neda" single song on July 2009 as a memorial for Neda Agha-Soltan. He released Illusion
album on 19 September 2009 by the German-Iranian Pamas-Verlag publishing house. In this album several songs were about heavy protest to Iranian government and occurrence of Suppressed after the presidential election.
Can be cited to "Vaghti Khoda Khabe(When God is sleeping)" through these songs. The threads of this song are protest to 2009 Iran poll protests trial
, Militia violence, Torture of prisoners and Supreme Leader of Iran
. Shahin tried in a part of the song to show the rape scene of Taraneh Mousavi
in the minds of listeners.
band in January 2010. The new band, Antikarisma, consists of Shahin Najafi, Babak Khazaei, Armin Mostaed, and Pejman Afshari who live in Germany. The new band is another demonstration of Najafi's continuous innovation in music.
In August 2009, with some poets and writers in shows of ""Night of solidarity with the liberal struggle"" Najafi had a protest hip hop show in Stockholm
, Sweden.
In December 2009, coincided with "Student Day" in Iran, Najafi with ziba shirazi had a protest music show in Georgetown University
, Washington, D.C.
He also released an article in his official blog and by a symbolic action announced: "I don't cut my hair until the time of freedom establishment in iran"
Bandar-e Anzali
Bandar-e Anzali , also Romanized as Bandar-e Pahlavī, Bandar Pahlavi, and Bandar Pahlevi, or simply as Pahlavī, Pahlevī, and Pehlevi; earlier, Enceli and Enzeli) is a city in and the capital of Bandar-e Anzali County, Gilan Province, Iran...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
) is an Iranian musician, poet and singer currently residing in Germany. He began his music career in Iran before emigrating to Germany in 2005.
Najafi's songs cover a range of themes, such as theocracy
Theocracy
Theocracy is a form of organization in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion....
, poverty, sexism
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
, censorship
Censorship in Iran
Censorship in Iran is the limiting or suppressing of the publishing, dissemination, and viewing of certain information in the Islamic Republic of Iran...
, child labour, execution and drug addiction. He strives to use poetic, literary, philosophical and political elements in his music.
Early years
Najafi was born in 1980 in Bandar-e AnzaliBandar-e Anzali
Bandar-e Anzali , also Romanized as Bandar-e Pahlavī, Bandar Pahlavi, and Bandar Pahlevi, or simply as Pahlavī, Pahlevī, and Pehlevi; earlier, Enceli and Enzeli) is a city in and the capital of Bandar-e Anzali County, Gilan Province, Iran...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. When he was six years old his father died and later his brother became a drug addict and also died. He began writing poetry as a teenager and began learning the guitar in the classical
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
and flamenco
Flamenco guitar
A flamenco guitar is a guitar similar to a classical guitar. Flamenco guitar also refers to toque, the guitar-playing part of the art of Flamenco.-Brief history:...
styles at the age of eighteen. He then became an underground artist in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, performing in both rock and Spanish music styles, working with various bands.
He studied sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at the University of Gilan
Gilan Province
Gilan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It lies along the Caspian Sea, just west of the province of Mazandaran, east of the province of Ardabil, north of the provinces of Zanjan and Qazvin....
and openly expressed his opinions about the university, leading to him getting expelled.
Immigration to Germany
He was head of a underground music band in IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
before his immigration to Germany but he was banned for singing in Iran by the Iranian government after his second music show. He was also the head of «Inan» music band in Germany. Then he joined to «Tapesh 2012» music band. «Tapesh 2012» were welcomed by Persian broadcasters and the international media by political and social songs and poems of shahin najafi.
An article published in No. 19194 of Kayhan
Kayhan
Kayhan is an influential newspaper in Iran. Directly under the supervision of the Office of the Supreme Leader, it is regarded to be "the most conservative Iranian newspaper."...
(Pro-regime/conservative newspaper) on 29 September 2008 and its content was critical to the «Tapesh 2012» activities. Kayhan
Kayhan
Kayhan is an influential newspaper in Iran. Directly under the supervision of the Office of the Supreme Leader, it is regarded to be "the most conservative Iranian newspaper."...
published the article as Establishing democracy with drum & circle title and wrote:
We Are Not Men
On 1 May 2008 (coincided with May Day), Shahin Najafi released Ma Mard Nistim(We Are Not Men) album with partnership and composition of «Tapesh 2012» music band. This album was his official and professional beginning in Persian hip hop music. The album attracted the audience and listener more than any album before it was released in Persian hip hop style.Separation from Tapesh 2012
Shahin Najafi ended cooperation with the «Tapesh 2012» music band from the beginning of 2009. Variety of reasons has been proposed related to his separation from this group. The main reason is releasing without permission "Around us" single song in Voice of America TVVoice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
. The supervisor of «Tapesh 2012» later apologised to the Shahin Najafi and said: the song has been inadvertently released in Voice of America TV
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
. Shahin Najafi has accepted the apology.
Reacting to the Iranian presidential election
Shahin Najafi did not remain silent about Iranian election protests2009 Iranian election protests
Protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election against the disputed victory of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and in support of opposition candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi occurred in major cities in Iran and around the world starting June 13, 2009...
. In this context, he released "Neda" single song on July 2009 as a memorial for Neda Agha-Soltan. He released Illusion
Illusion (Shahin Najafi album)
Illusion is the debut studio album by the Iranian rapper and singer-songwriter, Shahin Najafi as a solo artist after leaving Tapesh 2012...
album on 19 September 2009 by the German-Iranian Pamas-Verlag publishing house. In this album several songs were about heavy protest to Iranian government and occurrence of Suppressed after the presidential election.
Can be cited to "Vaghti Khoda Khabe(When God is sleeping)" through these songs. The threads of this song are protest to 2009 Iran poll protests trial
2009 Iran poll protests trial
2009 Iran poll protests trial refers to a series of trials conducted after 2009 Iranian presidential election. Over 140 defendants, including prominent politicians, academics and writers, were put on trial for participating in the 2009 Iranian election protests...
, Militia violence, Torture of prisoners and Supreme Leader of Iran
Supreme Leader of Iran
The Supreme Leader of Iran is the highest ranking political and religious authority in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The post was established by the constitution in accordance with the concept of Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists...
. Shahin tried in a part of the song to show the rape scene of Taraneh Mousavi
Taraneh Mousavi
Taraneh Mousavi is said to be a young Iranian woman who reportedly died after being sexually abused while in custody after being arrested for protesting the 2009 election results....
in the minds of listeners.
Antikarisma music band
He formed a new rock band as AntikarismaAntikarisma
Antikarisma is an Iranian rock, blues and hip hop band formed by Iranian singer Shahin Najafi on 17 January 2010.-Activities:Shahin Najafi and Antikarisma participated in the Persian Rap festival which toured Stockholm, Gutenberg and Malmö in Sweden on February 4 to 6, 2010. They performed songs in...
band in January 2010. The new band, Antikarisma, consists of Shahin Najafi, Babak Khazaei, Armin Mostaed, and Pejman Afshari who live in Germany. The new band is another demonstration of Najafi's continuous innovation in music.
Political and social activities
In addition to individual work in his concerts and campaign songs, Shahin Najafi had many performance on various political and social occasions. In October 2008, he had a music show on "Peace Conference" in Germany.In August 2009, with some poets and writers in shows of ""Night of solidarity with the liberal struggle"" Najafi had a protest hip hop show in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden.
In December 2009, coincided with "Student Day" in Iran, Najafi with ziba shirazi had a protest music show in Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, Washington, D.C.
He also released an article in his official blog and by a symbolic action announced: "I don't cut my hair until the time of freedom establishment in iran"
Collaboration albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Ma Iranim (We are Iran) | Tapesh 2012 |
| 2007 | Az Tehran ta Berlin (From Tehran to Berlin) | Tapesh 2012 |
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Ma mard nistim (We are not Men) | Tapesh 2012 |
| 2009 | Tavahom (Illusion) Illusion (Shahin Najafi album) Illusion is the debut studio album by the Iranian rapper and singer-songwriter, Shahin Najafi as a solo artist after leaving Tapesh 2012... |
Pamas-Verlag |
| 2010 | Saale Khoon (The Year of Blood) | Sharr Music |