Amplifying Afghan Voices: Celebrating Solidarity and Resilience on International Women’s Day

For International Women’s Day, Belfast became a roaring stage for global solidarity, musical activism, and unyielding sisterhood. Alghochak was deeply honored to stand side-by-side with our close friends at Beyond Skin, along with an incredible network of local and international supporters, to co-host a beautiful solidarity concert dedicated entirely to the brave women of Afghanistan.

With women’s rights and creative expressions heavily suppressed back home, this event was far more than a concert. It was an emotional, deeply moving, and heartwarming experience that brought our community together to declare that Afghan culture, music, and voices will never be silenced.

Masterful Melodies and Global Artistry

The evening featured a breathtaking lineup of world-class Afghan artists who moved the entire room to tears and applause.

The audience was treated to powerful, spellbinding performances by iconic vocalists Sonita Alizada and Elaha Soroor, whose music carries the heavy, beautiful weight of women's rights and cultural defiance. Accompanying them were two of the finest classical musicians in the sector: masterful Rubab player Saphwat Simab and the brilliant Shahbaz Hussain on Tabla.

Watching these artists perform right here in Belfast—a proud UNESCO City of Music—was a monumental reminder of the power of creative resistance.

Proud Moments: Poetry and Leadership

The most unforgettable moment for our local community happened right on center stage. Our very own Zarifa Asghari graced the platform to deliver an incredibly powerful poetry performance. Collaborating beautifully with the amazing local artist Eva Kearney, Zarifa’s words captured the raw emotion, strength, and hope of Afghan women everywhere. We are beyond proud of you, Zarifa Jan! Your courage is an inspiration to us all.

Our internal leadership also shone brightly during the evening. Alghochak's Chair, Fatima Sarwari, had the distinct honor of co-hosting and anchoring the event.

Fatima guided the evening beautifully alongside brilliant local journalists Amanda Ferguson and Niamh Campbell. We want to extend our massive, heartfelt thanks to Amanda and Niamh for using their professional platforms to stand in solidarity with us and help amplify Afghan refugee narratives across Northern Ireland.

A Special Thank You to Our Allies

This landmark event could not have happened without the tireless energy of our lifelong creative partner. We want to send a huge, special shout-out to Darren Ferguson, whose unwavering support of the Afghan people and Afghan music continues to make a genuine global impact. Darren's long-standing dedication to preserving and celebrating Afghan culture in Northern Ireland is deeply appreciated by every member of our committee.

Finally, our deepest gratitude goes out to everyone who attended the concert. By filling the room, listening to our stories, and sharing our music, you showed true solidarity with Afghan women. Together, we make our voices stronger, our community tighter, and our path forward brighter.