The British Songlines Magazine has awarded Afghanistan’s famous female pop singer Elaha Soror--and ten other singers from various countries--a "Songlines Music Award."

The Songlines Magazine was launched 12 years go with the aim of recognizing new and serious singers in the field of music, said the magazine. 

Elaha Soroor began her career with Afghan Star 12 years ago.

“The prize which was awarded to me by the Songlines Magazine was surprising to me. I am really happy to share the joy of this award with you,” said Elaha Soroor.

"After arriving in London as a refugee, Elaha was introduced to award-winning musicians and producers Al MacSween and Giuliano Modarelli, who originally formed Kefaya in the UK city of Leeds with renowned drummer Joost Hendrickx before migrating to London. Driven by a shared desire to use music as a tool for political dialogue and action, they began to develop a fresh new sound and forged the themes, narrative and title of Songs Of Our Mothers," said Songlines Magazine  

The article continued: "The album draws on Elaha’s personal experience as a refugee and her effort to present an alternative view of her homeland: 'In the eyes of the world,' she says, 'Afghan identity is terrorism, war and the Taliban and uneducated domesticated women who need help. I have tried to show other associations with Afghanistan, such as the beauty of my mother language Farsi and the diversity of our music.'”

“The Newcomer award went to the Afghan singer Elaha Soroor, also joint winner in the Fusion category with the band Kefaya, for the album Songs of Our Mothers,” the Magazine wrote.

Soroor dedicated her two awards to “the women of Afghanistan for their lives and stories that inspired the album. These women represent something everybody around the world can learn from," said the magazine. 

In the Afghan Star music contest 12 years ago, Elaha Soroor finished in eighth place but she was awarded the best female singer of the event.

“Elaha Soroor participated in the 4th Season of Afghan Star at a time where the presence of women in the music industry was very delicate; later she started her professional career in the field of music outside the country,” said Mustafa Azizyar, the host of Afghan Star.

Elaha Soroor has been living in London for the past eight years. She started making music professionally in London five years ago. She also pursued opera music in India and obtained a bachelor's degree in animation from the University of the Arts-London.