Shoista Mullodzhanov, bat Levi, People's Artist of Tajikistan

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Shoista Mullojonova (born as Shushana Rubinovna Mullodzhanova on September 3, 1925) was a famous legendary Tajik Shashmakom singer. She won many awards and titles in her career including the prestigious "People's Artist of the Republic of Tajikistan" and "Merited Artist of the USSR." She is viewed, by many people, as the "Queen of Central Asian Music." Her nephew, Yudik Mullodzhanov (1942 - 2020), was a famous singer, and her niece, Roza Mullodzhanova (1944 - ), is "Honored Artist of Tajikistan."

Biography

Early Life

Mullodzhanova was born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan to a religious Bukharian Jewish family to mother, Sivyo Davydov, from Samarkand and to father, Ruben Mullodzhanov, from Bukhara. The Mullodzhanov family trace their ancestry to an artistocratic Levite tribe that has been into performing and entertaining since the time of the First and Second Temple in Jerusalem. Shoista came from a family full of entertainers (actors, singers, and musicians), so singing was in her blood. In 1924, her parents with her four older brothers (Ribi, Levi, Itzakh, and Roshel) and sister (Zulai) moved from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan and Shoista was born a year later. Mullodzhanova learned to speak fluent Bukhori, a dialect of the Persian language, and Russian. Her mother was also a singer and her whole family was into music

and acting. Shoista graduated from the Stalinabad Women's Pedagogical School in 1943 and studied at the Moscow Conservatory from 1947 to 1953.

Career

Mullodzhanova had her debut at age 8 when she sang on Dushanbe radio. During the beginning of her career, in the early 1940s, she sang all over Central Asia and the Middle East. While in secondary school, she was part of the Rubab Player Ensemble in Tajikistan's Ensemble. In 1945, she sang in Iran for the royal Shah family, including Reza Shah the Great, and for the Iranian audience in her native Persian language. She was also named "Merited Artist of Tajikistan" at the tender age of 20. By the mid-1940s, Shoista was Tajikistan's first Shashmakom princess (equivalent to a pop princess).

After graduating cum laude from Moscow Conservatory in 1953, she performed at the Aini Theater for Opera and Ballet and developed numerous roles that include Mahin in Thour va Zuhro, Marfa in Arusi Shoh, Gulizor in Shirishi Vose, and many others.

Through the years, she sang Shashmakom music all over the Soviet Union and made a wonderful living. 1 She was named the "People's Artist of Tajikistan," in 1957 [1] and Merited Artist of the USSR. [2] Mullodzhanova has become very successful through the years and one of the most famous entertainers in Central Asia and in the Bukharian community. Even though Jews were treated unfairly in Central Asia, Shoista's talent brought her wealth and fame in a communist country.

From the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s, she was a soloist vocalist for the Tajik State Philharmonic. Mullojonova sang music of all other Soviet republics and of Eastern people. She always preferred the music of the Eastern and Tajik people. In 1975, Mullojonova was named senior instrutor at the Tajikistan State Institute of Arts.

Throughout her career, Mullojonova earned many awards. In addition to being a People's Artist and Merited Artist, she received the Order of Lenin, the Red Banner of Labor, two Order of the Badge of Honor, four medals, and the Honorary Order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Tajikistan and other republics.

In the 1980s, Mullodzhanova received a reputation for being the Queen of Tajik Music. Shoista was known for having the greatest voice in the republic of Tajikistan. She sang in Central Asia and all over the Soviet Union for over 50 years.

Personal Life and Later Career

Mullojonova was married to Efrem Haritonovich Benyaev until his death in 1999. They have three children: Ana (a businesswoman who lives in Forest Hills, NY), Dr. Negmat (who lives in Moscow), and Dr. Sofia (who lives in Austria). In 1991, Shoista and her family began to move from Central Asia, to the United States because of the Collapse of the Soviet Union and the start of the civil war and rise of Islamic Fundamentalism in Tajikistan. Shoista settled in Forest Hills in Queens, New York.

After moving the New York, Mullojonova joined the Bukharan Ensemble, founded by Fatima Kuinova, "Merited Artist of the Soviet Union." To this day, Mullodzhanova still sings in family and Bukharian Jewish events. After her husband, Efrem Haritonovitch Benyaev, died, she dedicated an album in memory of her husband. In September 2005, in Forest Hills High School, Mullodzhanova came out to sing for a crowd of audience who all came to celebrate her 80th birthday. Some of the people in the audience that heard her sing were Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor Pataki, President Emomalii Rahmon of Tajikistan, and Boris Kandov, President of the Bukharian Jewish Community. Shoista was praised and honored for her amazing performance that was enjoyed by the whole audience. Even at age 80 she was able to touch people with her singing and remind them that she is singing for each and every one of them, as she says, "I am singing for you."

Boris Kandov published a biography about Shoista Mullodzhanova which was titled Born to Sing as well as making a documentary about the legendary singer.

Recently, in February 2008, Mullodzhanova performed at the Golden Ilyas Malayas Award ceremony singing "Ey Dukhtari Nonzani Kadrat" and received an award.

Legacy

She might have left her native country almost twenty years ago, but Mullojonova will always be remembered as Tajikistan's singing sensation and as the Queen of Tajik music. Mullodzhanova is the most popular female singer Tajikistan has ever produced and is considered among the greatest artists of Tajikistan. [3] To this day, her music and recordings are protected by the Tajik government. [4] Shoista and popular Bukharian Jewish dancer, Malika Kalantarova (People's Artist of the USSR), are probably the most famous entertainers in Tajik history and even though they left the country, their work will always be remembered in their birth place.