Sisterhood was established in 2007 by recording artist and human rights activist Deeyah. The goal of the project is to empower young Muslim women by encouraging creative and artistic expression through Sisterhood initiatives based around a range of artistic disciplines including music, writing, design, dance, and photography. Sisterhood is a pioneering force for young Muslim women who previously had no voice or canvas for their creativity. Since its inception Sisterhood has progressed into an organic grassroots movement and creative community providing an outlet and giving a voice to young women through art. Sisterhood is achieving Deeyah’s aim to guide and nurture talent, to inspire, empower, support and make it possible for young women across the world to connect with each other to deal with the challenges they face artistically and culturally.
Sisterhood initially started as an online mixtape project of songs written by aspiring female Muslim rappers, singers and poetesses from the UK, Europe and the US. Continuing to evolve, Sisterhood is becoming its own unique scene of young women claiming their right to a voice, whatever form that voice may take. In its essence Sisterhood is a community of support and encouragement for young women. It is an understanding, positive open-minded network and judgment free environment.
Sisterhood focuses on dealing with a range of issues that the artists are affected by on some level including war, racism, love, romance, living in a post 9/11 world, women’s rights issues, individual identity, sexuality, a sense of belonging, faith, and personal experiences of being young socially conscious Muslim women in the West.
“This is just the first small step towards encouraging these young women and others like them out there to pursue their dreams and hopes. And, a way to let them know they are not alone in their struggles, fears and hardship” says Deeyah.
“Although many of the Sisterhood ladies are at the very beginning of their artistic journey and just starting to explore and discover their creative and artistic expression, I hope that through Sisterhood they will find inspiration and encouragement from each other to further develop and hone their craft. Hopefully we can help create a platform to have their voices and opinions heard as both artists and Muslim women living in Western societies.
Female Muslim artists face a tough time. There’s very little support for them. Many are actively discouraged by their own communities to express their thoughts and dreams through music or any other means. I want to give the encouragement and support to these young women that I didn’t have from certain sectors of the Muslim community. I want these women to know they are not alone. They have something to say and they deserve to be heard,” says Deeyah, the founder of Sisterhood.
SISTERHOOD Network is a program of AVA.
AVA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.