Rolling Programme

Kefaya & Elaha Soroor are an award-winning collective blending Afghan folk traditions with jazz, electronics, and psychedelic rock to create a powerful synthesis of cultures, voices, and rhythms. Their music transcends borders, and genres, offering a raw testament to resistance, unity, and internationalism.

Formed by London-based musicians and producers Giuliano Modarelli, Ali MacSween, and Joost Hendrickx, Kefaya unites a shared creative vision and political commitment with a musical language shaped through close collaboration with artists from diverse cultural traditions.

From the start, the project has explored themes of social justice and been inspired by revolutionary music and traditional songs of resistance. Their debut album Radio International centred on immigration and internationalism, winning the Best Newcomer Award at the Songlines Music Awards in 2017 and establishing the band’s direction both musically and politically.

The collaboration with Hazara singer and activist Elaha Soroor brought traditional folk forms from Afghanistan into dialogue with contemporary aesthetics and jazz, amplifying stories of exile, oppression and survival while refusing to separate artistic expression from political reality.

Elaha Soroor first rose to prominence on tv performing on Afghan Star and Stage, becoming the first female Hazara singer to perform on Afghan and Iranian TV. Her work challenges patriarchy and authoritarianism while honouring and celebrating the resilience of Hazara and Afghan women.

Their 2019 album Songs of Our Mothers reimagined songs composed and performed by Afghan women, winning the Songlines Fusion Award and receiving coverage on BBC Radio 3, BBC 6 Music, and international media.

The release marked an important moment in their development and later led to the creation of their independent label, Radio International, which aims to support radical and forward thinking music from London and beyond.

Their upcoming album Our Freedoms Must Be Won (2026) pushes further into synth rock, post punk, and jazz psychedelia while maintaining subtle influences from Afghan folk traditions. Developed through live improvisation and collective experimentation, it features Farsi poetry addressing themes of exile and resistance.

Kefaya & Elaha Soroor have performed at major UK and international festivals including WOMAD, Celtic Connections, Latitude Festival, Førdefestivalen, Glatt & Verkehrt, London Jazz Festival, Goa Jazz Festival, and many more alongside national tours across India. Highlights include the 2024 WOMEX official lineup and a UK support tour with Vieux Farka Touré.