Jamala

Ukrainian singer

Susana Dzhamaladinova (born 27 August 1983), better known by her stage name Jamala, is a Ukrainian singer who won the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "1944". She was awarded "People's Artist of Ukraine" by President Petro Poroshenko.[1]

Jamala
Jamala with the Eurovision trophy
Background information
Birth nameSusana Jamaladinova
Born (1983-08-27) 27 August 1983 (age 41)
Osh, Kirghiz SSR, Soviet Union
OriginAlushta, Crimea
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2005–present
Labels
Websitejamalamusic.com

Career

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In 2010, she released her first single "You Are Made of Love". In 2016, Jamala's song "1944" won the Ukrainian song selection for Eurovision. She went on to win Eurovision 2016 with "1944".[2] The song is about the deportation of the Crimean Tatars, including her family, in 1944.[3][4] Since 2017, Jamala has been one of the jurors on Vidbir and has made several television appearances.[5]

Personal life

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Susana Dzhamaladinova was born on August 27, 1983 in the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic (now Kyrgyzstan) Her father was a Muslim Crimean Tatar and her mother was Armenian.

Her Crimean Tatar ancestors were deported from Crimea to Central Asia under Joseph Stalin's government during World War II. In 1989 her family returned to Crimea.

In 2017, Jamala married Bekir Suleimanov. They have two children together. In February 2022, Jamala and her children left Ukraine due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

References

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  1. Granger, Anthony (16 May 2016). "Ukraine: Jamala Awarded Title "People's Artist of Ukraine"". Eurovoix.
  2. "Ukraine's Jamala wins Eurovision 2016". BBC News. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  3. "Jamala entered Eurovision-2016 national selection". QHA.com.ua. 26 January 2016. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  4. Eurovision: Ukraine's entry aimed at Russia, BBC News (22 February 2016)
  5. Hainey, Fionnula (13 May 2023). "Eurovision 2023: Who are GO_A, Jamala, Tina Karol, and Verka Serduchka?". The Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 14 May 2023.