Sounds of the Revolution: Matthias Koch & Bahar Roshanai

Jin, Jiyan, Azadi – woman, life, freedom. Since the murder of the young Kurdish-Iranian woman Jina Mahsa Amini in September 2022, these three words have represented a nationwide wave of protest that has not abated to this day – and continues to be fought with bloodshed by the mullah government under Khamenei. For many millennials and members of Gen Z, it was the first time they had heard of such far-reaching demonstrations in Iran. Yet throughout the 20th century, the country’s history has been shaped by protest and revolution: Operation Ajax and the removal of Mossadegh as democratically elected prime minister, the protests against Shah Pahlavi, the Iranian Revolution, the Islamic Revolution. And all these upheavals have a soundtrack. Matthias Koch of 30M Records will discuss the Iranian music he specialises in, joined by Iranian-born musician and cultural manager Bahar Roshanai. With tracks cued up, this musical discussion explores the history of Iran along with its present and future. Can a song like »Baraye« by Shervin Hajipour – which brought a sense of hope to the violent images on TikTok and Instagram – make a difference?

The talk will be interpreted live in German Sign Language.