Aryana Sayeed

Sayeed was born in 1985 in Kabul, Afghanistan to a Pashtun father and a Tajik mother. Her parents left Afghanistan when she was 8 years old and lived in Peshawar, Pakistan before settling in Switzerland.[1] By the age of 12 she had obtained admission to a music school where she would perform in places with a choir, "Even though it wasn't for long, [...] that definitely made me realize what I wanted to become when I grew older." she has said in her interviews.[4]

Sayeed performing in 2019

Sayeed's first single, in 2008, was MashAllah. However, her turning point in her career came after her song Afghan Pesarak got released in 2011.[5] Aryana Sayeed became a household name in many Afghan homes outside of Afghanistan and was requested to perform at many concerts around the world.[6] At the peak of all the sudden success, Aryana decided to go to Afghanistan and perform at concerts inside her fragile home country. Aryana Sayeed rose to fame there with her version of an old classic Afghan song, Gule Seb. It was during these initial days in Afghanistan when she filmed her next song Dilam Tang Ast. The success of the song resulted in an Award for best song filmed inside Afghanistan at the Aryana Television Awards. It also resulted in a new career as a TV host at one of Afghanistan's leading entertainment channels.[7] Her next song Hairanam did reasonably well. Aryana's next big success, Jelwa, was a collaboration with one of the leading singers in the Afghan Music Industry, Jawid Sharif. This was the second time they paired up after their initial success, Biya Biya. Aryana Sayeed followed this up by an upbeat nationalistic song to encourage the art of sports in her country. Several singers were signed on to make the song, Afghanistan Afghanistan. Aryana's, Banoo e Atash Nasheen which describes the pain the women of Afghanistan have faced over years of war and abuse has won her enormous critical acclaim.[8] A large orchestra has contributed to the music of the song and the shooting took place inside Afghanistan. Shortly after the song was released, Aryana was asked for an interview by the BBC to explain her reason and meaning behind the song. Her next big hit was Anaram Anaram which put Aryana back at the top of the charts in Afghanistan.[9][10]

In 2017 she won the Afghan Icon Award and was named the 2017 Best Female Artist of Afghanistan.[11] She also received the title "Voice of Afghanistan" from the Afghanistan National Television and Radio Network. Aryana has also received awards for Best Song of the Year, Best Video of the Year, and a Bravery Award.[11]

It wasn't long before Aryana Sayeed was signed on by one of the leading entertainment channels in Afghanistan, 1TV. Her show, Music Night (Shab-e Mosiqi), involved her performing and interviewing other artists. The show was a success and after the first season Aryana left to go back home in London. Shortly after this Aryana Sayeed was signed by TOLO TV as one of the judges at The Voice of Afghanistan in 2013.[12] She continued her collaboration with the TV station and subsequently became a judge on another talent show, Afghan Star.[7]

Sayeed was a supporter of the #WhereIsMyName campaign led by Laleh Osmany, which brought about a change in Afghan law so that women's names could be included on identity cards.[13]

Nadia Nadim is her niece, who plays for the Danish National Football Team.[14] Sayeed got engaged to her manager, Hasib Sayed, in 2018. [15]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aryana Sayeed.

• Aryana Sayeed on Instagram