Three performers with refugee backgrounds participate in Eurovision 2021
Three performers with refugee backgrounds participate in Eurovision 2021
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is delighted that three performers with refugee backgrounds will be participating in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The competition will take place in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, between 18 - 22 May and is organized by the European Broadcasting Union. This year’s Eurovision theme is ‘Open Up’ and we hope the event will help bring people together in a spirit of unity and inclusion during these difficult times.
The participating performers are:
Manizha – Musician, singer and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, representing Russia. She fled Tajikistan in 1994 during the conflict and is now an advocate for the refugee cause speaking out for refugees everywhere. She hopes to inspire other refugees and remind the world that when given the chance, anyone can contribute to society through their talents, skills and strength of the human spirit.
Tousin “Tusse” Chiza – Musician and singer, representing Sweden. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was granted asylum in Sweden after spending three years in a refugee camp in Uganda. Tusse openly shares his experience in overcoming challenges of settling in and adapting to new situations, helping empower young people facing similar difficulties.
Ahmad Joudeh – Dutch Ballet Dancer with a refugee background. Ahmad will be performing during the interval of the second semi-final on 20 May. The performance is titled ‘Close Encounters of a Special Kind’ and is centered around the theme of humanity’s natural desire for connection and the need for mutual understanding.
We wish all three performers the best of luck and look forward to a very exciting show!
For more information, please contact:
- In Geneva: Shabia Mantoo, [email protected], +41 79 337 7650
- In the Hague: Femke Joordens, [email protected], +31 70 250 18 07, +31 6 23 84 55 40
- In Moscow: Dinara Galakhova, [email protected], +7 495 660 0859, +7 903 721 7560
- In Stockholm: Anders Aalbu, [email protected], +46 10 10 12 820
