Iranian Diaspora
There are roughly 5 Million Iranians living outside Iran. A large portion of this growing migrant population settled in the US, Canada and various European countries during the the late seventies and eighties, as Iran grappled with a dramatic revolution and eight year war with neighbouring Iraq (1980-1988). Many exiled and migrant Iranians and their offspring have gone on to excel in their respective fields of endeavour: from academia and science to business, music, film and sports. Iranian-Americans in particular have done very well: average per capita incomes of Iranian-Americans is 50% higher than that of the rest of America! Meet just a few of the Iranians that have made a name for themselves outside of Iran…
Comedy
US based Iranian comic Maz Jobrani. Source: Youtube, 2013
US based Iranian comic Max Amini. Source: Youtube, 2019
UK based Iranian comic Omid Djallili. Source: Youtube, 2018.
UK based Iranian comic Shappi Khorsandi. Source: Youtube, 2018. Content owned by the BBC
Music
US based Iranian trap music artist Asadi - famed for introducing Persian Trap music to an online audience through his Youtube channel. Source: Youtube, 2017
Sweden based Iranian pop singer and producer Arash - famed for a number of hit club songs that mix Persian and English lyrics. Source: Youtube, 2018
Googoosh, now based in the US is a true Iranian cultural and pop icon and by far the most famous of all Iranian singers - singing from Iran and later the US for over 60 years. She was also the first Iranian singer whose music and name gained popularity beyond Iran, particularly in Russia and various former Soviet states. Source: Youtube, 2010.
Abjeez - are a critically acclaimed Persian speaking Reggae/Ska duo founded by Iranian born sisters Melody Safavi and Safoura Safavi in 2005. Their lyrics often carry humorous and subversive cultural and political messages.
Art
Farhang Foundation presents an interview with Shirin Neshat, one of the best known Iranian artists living in the United States. Source: Youtube, 2019
2015 CNN report on legendary Iranian artist Monir Farmanfarmaian. By the time of her sad passing at the age of 96 in April 2019, Farmanfarmaian had returned to live and work in Tehran again, but she had previously spent many years studying and working in the US and was the first Iranian artist to have had her art showcased at the Guggenheim in New York. Source: Youtube, 2015
US based Iranian artist Pooneh Maghazehe talks about her Iran influenced installation ‘Iran Inside Out’ at the Chelsea Art Museum (NYC) in June 2009. Source: Youtube, 2009.
Film & TV
MBC Persia Persia's Got Talent: a spin-off of the British Britian’s Got Talent show. Complete with its panel of well-known (Iranian diaspora) judges and showcasing the talent of Iranians outside of Iran. The show is produced outside Iran and began airing on MBC Persia in January 2020. Source: Youtube, 2020
France based Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani first made a name for herself as a leading actress in critically acclaimed Iranian movies before leaving Iran to grab the world’s attention in French and Hollywood films. Source: Youtube, 2013.
US based Iranian actress Nasim Pedrad talks to Conan O’brian on CONAN. Source: Youtube, 2017
UK based Iranian actor and comedian Kayvan Novak. Aka"Facejacker" talks to Jonathan Ross on the ITV Jonathan Ross Show. Source: Youtube, 2012
Business, Science & innovation
US based Iranian social entrepreneur Anousheh Ansari was the world’s first ever private woman astronaut to journey into space. In this Tedx Talk she shares her inspiring story and outlook on life. Source: Youtube, 2017
A Business Insider piece on US based Iranian entrepreneur and current Uber CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi. Source: Youtube. 2017
Sport
Bud Football presents an interview with Iranian international footballer Alireza Jahanbakhsh, whose amazing over-the-head goal for Brighton and Hove FC on the first day of the new year, was voted the English Premier League goal of the month for January. Source: Youtube, 2020
Wide World of Sports presents an Australian Open interview with legendary Iranian Tennis Player and entertainer Mansour Bahrami (though tennis was briefly banned after the Islamic revolution in 1979, this was soon revoked and the sport is back on the rise in Iran; see the SPORTS page for more). Source: Youtube, 2019
Short series of facts about the now retired Shar Pourdanesh, the first and only Iranian born NFL player in history. Source: Youtube, 2015