Muslim-majority Azerbaijan selects Jewish singer for Eurovision 2024

Azerbaijan’s decision to be represented by a Jewish artist highlights its cultural diversity and interfaith harmony

BAKU, Azerbaijan (MNTV) –Muslim-majority country Azerbaijan has chosen Asaf (Sefael) Mishiev, a 32-year-old Mountain Jewish singer, to represent it at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.

His selection highlights Azerbaijan’s longstanding tradition of religious and ethnic coexistence.

Mishiev, the lead vocalist of the Baku-based band Mamagama, is a celebrated figure within Azerbaijan’s Jewish community, which numbers around 30,000 people.

He belongs to the Mountain Jewish community, also known as Juhuro, a distinct Jewish ethnic group with a history spanning over 1,500 years in the Caucasus region.

Mountain Jews trace their origins to Persian-speaking Jews who settled in the area and have since preserved unique linguistic, cultural, and religious traditions.

They primarily speak Juhuri, a language that blends Persian, Hebrew, and Turkic influences, and have played an integral role in Azerbaijan’s diverse social fabric.

Azerbaijan, with a Muslim-majority population, has long prided itself on religious tolerance and harmony.

The selection of a Jewish artist to represent the nation on a global stage reinforces this inclusive approach.

Mishiev’s passion for music has deep roots.

He won a Mountain Jewish music competition in 2013 and later dedicated himself to mentoring young singers at the Jewish Community Club in Baku.

In an interview with media outlet Ynet, he expressed his deep connection to his Jewish identity.

The selection of Mishiev has been warmly received by Azerbaijan’s Jewish community. Roman Gurevich, honorary ambassador of the Jewish Agency in Azerbaijan, emphasized the nation’s inclusive spirit.

“Jews have always been loved in Azerbaijan,” he told Ynet.