Sonita Alizadeh

An Afghan rapper and activist who courageously fights against forced child marriage through her music and advocacy.

Sonita Alizadeh (born 1996) is an Afghan artist and human rights activist whose defiant rap songs challenge systemic gender oppression. Forced to flee Afghanistan under Taliban rule, she resettled in Iran, where she secretly wrote lyrics protesting child marriage after nearly being sold into wedlock at age 16.

Her song ‘Brides for Sale’ went viral in 2014, drawing global attention to forced marriages. The documentary 《Sonita》 (2015) chronicled her journey, winning awards at Sundance and IDFA. Alizadeh later earned a scholarship to study in the U.S., where she founded ‘Sonita’s Initiative’, advocating for girls’ education through creative arts.

By blending traditional Afghan poetry with hip-hop, Alizadeh amplifies marginalized voices. As a UNFPA Ambassador, she campaigns to end child marriage in conflict zones. Her work redefines art as a weapon for social justice, inspiring a generation of Afghan women to claim autonomy.