Diaspora Arts Connection proudly welcomes back prominent Kurdish vocalist, Aynur, to San Francisco on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at Marines' Memorial Theatre at 7:00 PM. Join us for a very special performance!

"To hear Aynur's voice is to hear the transformation of all the layers of human joy and suffering into one sound. It reaches deep into the soul, tears into the heart, and for a moment, all are joined as one. It is unforgettable." Yo-Yo Ma

Saturday, October 25, 2025, 7:00 PM
Marines' Memorial Theatre, 609 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94102, San Francisco

Diaspora Arts Connection proudly presents "Shâhak & Mâhak" on Sunday, October 12, 2025. Shahak and Mahak is a poetic, romantic, and imaginative narrative, written by Gardafrid. This work tells the story of two infatuated souls in a poetic format. The play draws inspiration from ancient Iranian storytelling traditions and is presented with a melodious, metaphorical, and at times, lyrical language. Shabnam Tolouei and Gordafarid are directors and actors of the play and will be accompanied by Theo Sepanta Dehghan on percussion

Diaspora Arts Connection proudly presents Emad Bonakdar's "Without Borders" on Saturday, September 27, 2025, 8:00 PM, at the Brava Theater in San Francisco. Join us for a unique concert offering a blend of authentic Iranian, Flamenco, and Jazz music. In this special event, you’ll witness the beautiful Flamenco dance of Fanny Ara, and live performances by three vocalists with unique voices, Dina Zarif, Azadeh Farpour, and Khatchatour Khatchatourian. This concert especially focuses on women and the pressures they have faced throughout history, celebrating women’s freedom and empowerment. It emphasizes the role of female artists and aims to bridge cultures through a memorable and unforgettable experience for all music lovers and advocates of social justice. Join us!

🗓️ Friday, September 20, 2025
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Impossible Stage, 2033 University Ave, Berkeley, CA

Third Culture Tales is back in the Bay! 🌍✨
Born from a deep need to connect beyond borders, languages, and inherited identities, this traveling series brings stories and music to center stage—celebrating the lived experiences of those who exist between cultures.

Join us for an evening of real stories and soul-stirring music, shared live by a powerful lineup of Bay Area artists. Whether you’re an immigrant, a child of immigrants, or someone shaped by movement, memory, and multicultural experience—this event is for you.

Let Her Sing® returns to Los Angeles for its third year—and its ninth globally—as a breathtaking celebration of women’s voices from around the world. More than just a concert, this powerful annual event uplifts the voices of women who have been silenced, censored, or threatened simply for expressing themselves through song.

Diaspora Arts Connection proudly presents its ninth annual event, "Let Her Sing 2025: A Celebration of Female Voices." This event showcases an inspiring array of female artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, each bringing their unique voices and perspectives to the stage. "Let Her Sing" is dedicated to highlighting the strength and diversity of women’s voices worldwide, featuring performances that blend traditional and contemporary musical styles.

Join us for a screening of Afshin Hashemi's film, "Sea Boys," on Sunday, August 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the film's director, Afshin Hashemi. Join us for an afternoon of arts and community!

Diaspora Arts Connection proudly welcomes back King Raam for an intimate performance at Central Stage on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM. Join us for an evening of King Raam's most unforgettable music from his past albums and his new material from his upcoming album.

Diaspora Arts Connection and Roxie Theater proudly present a special screening of Marva Nabili's 1975 film. The earliest complete surviving feature film directed by an Iranian woman, Marva Nabili’s The Sealed Soil chronicles a young woman in pre-revolution Iran is caught between the traditional values of her small village and her own yearnings for independence and individuality. Her persistent refusal of marriage proposals coupled with her unseemly removal of her hood causes her family to seek the help of an exorcist, convinced she must be possessed by evil spirits.

Diaspora Arts Connection and Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies proudly present an intimate screening of "The Dawn Is Too Far" documentary on Sunday, June 22nd at 5:00 PM at Central Stage. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the film's co-director, Dr. Persis Karim. Stay afterwards for a celebration of the Center's work as it closes down on June 30th. Join us for snacks and festivities and share memories of the Center's work. Tell your friends and family to come along!

You’re cordially invited to a vibrant evening of art, music, and entertainment! Mark your calendars for June 7, as Diaspora Arts Connection hosts a special fundraiser at the beautiful Leon Event Hall in San Francisco. This unforgettable night promises a rich showcase of artistic talent, featuring live music performances, stunning art displays, and much more. It’s all in support of our ongoing efforts to empower and promote artists from diverse diasporas.

Diaspora Arts Connection and Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies, San Francisco State University proudly present a delightful presentation of Kurdish music, "Vengê Waran: Voices of the Highlands," featuring Işık Berfin (vocals), Sirvan Manhoobi (Oud and arrangements), Nariman Assadi (percussion), and Asaf Ophir (clarinet). Join us for an unforgettable night of Kurdish music!

Join us for a special community presentation and cultural afternoon spotlighting bold voices from the Iranian independent film scene.

The screening of "The Great Yawn of History," the acclaimed debut feature film by Aliyar Rasti, which won the Special Jury Prize in the Encounters section at Berlinale 2024, starring Saber Abar and Mohammad Aghebati, will be followed by a Q&A session by the film's actor and producer Mohammad Aghebati.

This is a celebration of film, artistic freedom, and community—and an opportunity to discover the vibrant, underground creativity emerging from the Iranian diaspora.

Presented by Diaspora Arts Connection, Third Culture Tales (TCT) is a space for stories that cross borders, challenge definitions, and celebrate the complexity of identity. On April 11, we make our Los Angeles debut with a powerful lineup of storytellers and musicians who will bring their personal journeys to the stage, exploring themes of belonging, displacement, and self-discovery.

Presented by Diaspora Arts Connection, Third Culture Tales (TCT) is a space for stories that cross borders, challenge definitions, and celebrate the complexity of identity. On March 28, we return with a powerful lineup of storytellers and musicians who will bring their personal journeys to the stage, exploring themes of belonging, displacement, and self-discovery.

Join us for a celebration of Norooz* as we welcome the arrival of Spring at the Marina Bay Park in Richmond on Saturday, March 22, 2025 between 11:00 and 5:00 PM. The City of Richmond and Diaspora Arts Connection proudly present “Norooz Spring Equinox Celebration,” where we will gather for a day of music, dance and community. This event is free and open to the public. Bring your families and friends and join us!

Diaspora Arts Connection proudly presents a screening of the Academy Award winning short film, In the Shadow of the Cypress, presented by directors Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi on Sunday, March 9th at 4:00 PM at Central Stage. Come meet with the directors and see their acclaimed animation. Refreshments will be served.

Diaspora Arts Connection proudly presents B-Band Live in San Francisco on Friday, February 28, 2025. Join us for an exciting night of Iranian rock as we welcome B-Band to San Francisco for the first time. B-Band members: Behzad Khiavchi (guitar and vocals), Babak Khiavchi (guitar), Yahya Alkhansa (drums), Pouya Mehrabian (bass and backing vocals), and Milad Ashtiani (keyboards & backing vocals).

Diaspora Arts Connection and Freight & Salvage proudly present Emel Mathlouthi, a Tunisian-American singer-songwriter, composer, performer and producer whose music has crossed time, countries and continents. She rose to fame in 2012 with her protest song “Kelmti Horra” (My Word Is Free) from the eponymous album Kelmti Horra and was subsequently called the voice of the Arab spring. In 2016, she performed Kelmti Horra at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, marking a climax in her journey with this powerful song.

Join us for an exciting night of music with Kabul Dreams on Sunday, December 15th in San Francisco. Kabul Dreams will play their new works as well as many of their older music. We are delighted to welcome them back to a DAC stage again.

Join us on December 14th at the East Bay Media Center in Berkeley for an inspiring evening of storytelling, poetry, and music that transcends borders. Diaspora Arts Connection proudly presents Third Culture Tales: Stories Beyond Borders, a celebration of voices from around the globe, bringing together individuals eager to share their unique experiences of living between cultures.

Diaspora Arts Connections and Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies, San Francisco State University proudly presents “A Gathering of Light for Yalda” on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 8:00 PM at Leon Events Hall in San Francisco. Join us for a night of unity through music, dance, and poetry in honor of Shabe Yalda (Winter Solstice) as we envision peace and unity on earth, bringing light into the darkest nights of the year on Winter Solstice. The event will feature spiritual and folkloric music and dances by amazing musicians and dancers.

Koubeh, formed in 2019 in Brooklyn, takes audiences on a captivating journey through Iranian melodies of the past. From sold-out shows in New York, they introduced fresh tunes like "Kook", "Gonjeshk", "Farvardin", "Ghadam Zanan". Their breakout hit, "Kook", marked a turning point, inspiring them to craft original music through collaborative and single-author efforts. Koubehband weaves their rich musical heritage into innovative unforgettable compositions.

Join us on Friday, November 9, 2024 at 7:30 PM at Central Stage for an evening of Persian classical music where diverse melodies and rhythms seamlessly fuse into a perfect whole, illuminating the collective pulse and its power to bring peace to all. Namâd Ensemble and Mahbobe Golzari will perform traditional and modern melodies, setting us afloat on an inner journey of passion and tranquility.

Join us on Friday, November 8, 2024 at 7:30 PM at Community School of Music & Art in Mountain View for an evening of Persian classical music where diverse melodies and rhythms seamlessly fuse into a perfect whole, illuminating the collective pulse and its power to bring peace to all. Namâd Ensemble and Mahbobe Golzari will perform traditional and modern melodies, setting us afloat on an inner journey of passion and tranquility.

Diaspora Arts Connection proudly presents Ali Azimi Live in San Francisco as a part of his 2024 US tour. Join us for an amazing evening of exciting new and nostalgic music from Ali Azimi. Ali will be accompanied by musicians Yahya Alkhansa (drums), Faarjam Saidi (bass), Kourosh Kanani (guitar), and Ali Bros (keyboard).

Join us for a night of music from Boushehr with Paris-based musician Habib Meftah and Netherlands-based musician Rouzbeh Esfand on Friday, September 20, 2023 at Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center in Berkeley.

For the second year in Los Angeles, Diaspora Arts Connection is proud to present "Let Her Sing 2024: A Celebration of Female Voices" in Los Angeles. Nine female vocalists and a group of exceptional musicians will come together on Sunday, September 8, 2024 to celebrate the female voice, suppressed, censored, and threatened in parts of the world.

For the eighth year running, Diaspora Arts Connection is proud to present "Let Her Sing 2024: A Celebration of Female Voices." Eight female vocalists and a group of exceptional musicians will come together on Friday, September 6, 2024 to celebrate the female voice, suppressed, censored, and threatened in parts of the world.

You’re cordially invited to a vibrant evening of art, music, and entertainment! Mark your calendars for July 21st, as Diaspora Arts Connection hosts a special fundraiser at the beautiful Leon Event Hall in San Francisco. This unforgettable night promises a rich showcase of artistic talent, featuring live music performances, stunning art displays, and much more. It’s all in support of our ongoing efforts to empower and promote artists from diverse diasporas.