The Ukrainian Jamala -from his real name Sousanna Jamaldinova-, Tatar origin by his father who won with “1944” Eurovision and Armenian by his mother replied after winning the questions of our Armenian colleagues. According to the Armenian newspaper “Jam 168” (168 hours), the Ukrainian song was directed against Russia and especially against the Soviet Union with Stalin had exiled during the Second World War the Crimean Tatars to Asia Central. While at the Eurovision media focused by the dispute between Ukraine and Russia have ignored the Armenian origin of Jamala by his mother, Jamala says his mother is Armenian and Christian, his Muslim father and Tatar. She said that her home religion is not a taboo subject, but chose Islam … “The idea to write and sing” 1944 “comes from my childhood with you back -large-Nazilkhan mother who was a survivor of the events and told me a lot, “said Jamala, recounting the plight of some 10 000 displaced Tatars to Central Asia.” Nobody remembers them! “She says.
About his Armenian roots, Jamala says “parents of my mother are of Nagorno-Karabakh where my grandparents were forced to emigrate to Central Asia. My grandfather was then 5 years old and his family was exiled in a gulag in Kyrgyzstan. The mother of my grandfather was close to my beloved composer Aram Khachatryan. In my youth one of my important meetings was with the Armenian composer Guenady Astsatourian who enjoyed a good reputation in the Crimea. He taught me the basics of jazz (…) I became member of the family, I went with them to the Armenian parties … I also had the chance to know Djivan Gasparyan I admire . Just a few months I sang with legendary composer Michel Legrand. My close friend, Armen Kostantian is the duduk player of my song “1944”. It two years ago I gave a concert in Yerevan. When the plane landed in Armenia, I felt at once that I was home. I went to Echmiadzin, the pagan temple of Garni, Keghart, Dzargatsor with its view of the plain of Ararat, Lake Sevan with Sevanavank … I want to make me a lot again in Armenia. “Krikor Amirzayan
This is the Armenian singer Jamala by his mother (32 years old) who will represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2016 to be held in May in Stockholm, Sweden.