“Mehmani” in Concert – Songs of Home and Belonging

Hadja is a musician with Afghan roots. She recorded her first album “Olucha” at the age of five, followed by a second album “Yak Qese Taza” at thirteen. Her early music focused on educational songs for children, as well as themes of war and the hope for peace in her country of origin. During her teenage years, she performed in Kabul and appeared on national television in Afghanistan. In 2019, she released her debut EP “Dear My Lover,” which she wrote and produced herself. Her second EP, “Self Care,” followed in 2020.
Hadja’s sound blends electronic music with traditional Afghan influences, often layering multiple vocal tracks to create a rich and distinctive atmosphere. She is currently writing her master’s thesis on Afghan pop music.

Mariann Yar is a performance artist working at the intersection of acting and power-critical theater. She collaborates with municipal and state theaters as well as the independent scene, with a focus on anti-racism and intersectional empowerment. After graduating from Berlin’s University of the Arts, she joined the artistic leadership collective of Ringtheater and co-founded Stabiler Rücken e.V., where she works with BIPoC and Jewish artists against racism and antisemitism. Since 2024, she has been part of the Doris Crea Theater Collective. Yar stands for a new generation of theater-makers demanding creative agency across genres and contributing to the artistic and political evolution of the performing arts.

Siar Hashimi is considered today as one of the most innovative and creative Tabla Players in the fantastic world of Tabla. His art and talent are widely recognized not only among artists sharing his own culture, but also performers from the western music world. Siar had the opportunity to participate in numerous musical festivals in Africa, Europe and Asia where he was honored with several awards. Siar who was born in 1981 in Kabul Afghanistan, started the school of music at the age of 4 in his homeland Afghanistan. Further he followed his music studies in India working with the most famous Tabla instructors such as Swapan Bhattacharya, Zakir Hussain, Anindo Chaterjee.

Zara Momand is a psychologist-in-training, political educator, and freelance writer. Since 2016, she has worked in various settings supporting migrants and refugees. Beginning in 2021, her work – through writing, lectures, and workshops – has focused on raising awareness about structural inequalities in mental healthcare. She advocates for accessible mental health services and explores psychological topics through an intersectional lens. Her empowerment work prioritizes personal empowerment and collective resistance, especially through cultural preservation, self-efficacy, and strategic use of available resources.

Fanus Ghorjani is a political scientist currently pursuing training in data science. Her work examines how data collection can perpetuate colonial patterns, leading to global inequalities in knowledge, especially as the amount of data continues to grow. As an educator focused on anti-discrimination, Fanus combines academic research with cultural initiatives through her role as a project manager at mehmani, an organization dedicated to cultural exchange and awareness. She identifies specifically as a Hamburg Afghan, highlighting her strong connection to the city of Hamburg, and speaks German, English, and Dari.