Jamala: Songs of Freedom
VOA's new documentary, "Jamala: Songs of Freedom" follows Ukrainian singer-songwriter Jamala in the early hours of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and profiles her activism of raising money and awareness for her homeland. Jamala gained international fame in 2016 as the winner of the Eurovision contest where she performed her song, "1944," about the deportation to Central Asia that year of Crimean Tatars — including her great-grandmother's family. Jamala has performed at renowned venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the National Opera House in Kyiv, Ukraine, and the 2023 Eurovision contest held in Liverpool, England. Her latest album, QIRIM, which means Crimea, is a tribute to her Crimean Tatar roots.