Lotlfullah Najafizada holds a unique perspective on Afghanistan. His lifelong experience of living all around the country himself, combined with his award-winning, journalistic career, has granted Najafizada a deep connection with his homeland’s past, present, and future.
Najafizada was born in Kabul in the late ‘80s, when Afghanistan was in the midst of Russian occupation. Later, he lived through the internal conflicts resulting from Taliban-controlled government, and the subsequent US occupation. Lotfullah and his family were constantly on the move during this time, struggling to survive and traveling all over Afghanistan to avoid the conflict as best they could.
All the while, Lotfullah was attending school when he could, immersing himself in his studies, and discovering his innate talent for writing and reporting. It wasn’t until Lotfullah gained access to the internet, and had begun traveling, that he realized the circumstances of his youth were not shared with many children around the world. He realized the potential for his country to become a more peaceful place, and chose the path of journalism as his tool for building a better Afghanistan.
Najafizada believes that Afghanistan’s turbulent history over decades past has actually put the country in a unique position to move forward, and at long last, recover a unified sense of peace. Specifically, he cites Afghanistan’s ability to survive in the face of such constant conflict, and come out the other side in a place of relative stability. He also points towards the expansion of media and internet access in the country, which has resulted in younger generations becoming more informed and involved.
Today, Lotfullah Najafizada is a journalist and director at TOLOnews organization - the largest news and current affairs TV channel in Afghanistan. He has received international recognition for his work, and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the modern geopolitical sphere. Despite his love for his native land, Najafizada reports on Afghanistan in an unbiased way - optimistic for the future, but also realistic in how he doesn’t overlook or underestimate the complexity of the country’s issues.
In this episode of Stories of Transformation, Najafizada sits on the other side of the table and tells the story of his life growing up in Afghanistan, discovering his calling, and his vision for building a better world by uplifting Afghanistan.
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For full show notes
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Credits
Produced by: Joseph Gangemi
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-gangemi-audio/
Digital Marketing & Media by: Katherine An
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-a-91081b56/
Theme music by: Qais Essar
www.therabab.com
Artwork by: Masheed Ahadi
https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/masheed
Episode Music Credits
— "Corals Under The Sun - Instrumental Version” by Sivan Talmor
— "Landing On The Ground” by Sivan Talmor
— “Pilgrim” by Some Were At Sea
— “Continuance” by Yehezkel Raz
— “Vibradrone” by Ankori & Ramon
— "Bilambit Alap” by Suraj Nepal