Malala Yousafzai recently attended Taylor Swift’s concert at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday. The Nobel laureate, known globally for her advocacy of girls’ education, shared her joy and reflections on social media, offering a glimpse into a momentous occasion that was more than just a night of music.
For Malala, this wasn’t just another event; it was her first ‘proper’ concert experience, which she celebrated in the company of her husband, Asser Malik, and a few close friends. She documented the evening on Instagram, sharing photos from the event and reflecting on the profound impact music has had on her life.
In her post, Malala took her followers back to her childhood in Swat Valley, Pakistan, a time when the Taliban had banned all forms of entertainment, including music and television. It was 2008, and Malala, then just 11 years old, lived in a world where music was silenced, and girls were forbidden from attending school. Yet, amidst the repression, she found solace in the songs of Taylor Swift. She said in her post that one of her fondest memories from that time was singing Swift’s hit song Love Story with her best friend, Moniba.
She wrote, “Moniba and I found the highest rock we could, climbed on top of it, and announced to all our classmates and teachers that we were going to perform our new favourite song. We sang with all our hearts, savouring the joy of those moments. That’s where my Swiftie journey began.”
Fast forward to 2024, and Malala’s love for Swift’s music remains undiminished. Attending the concert at Wembley was a dream come true, a moment of pure magic for the 27-year-old activist. She described the experience as surreal, singing along to every song in the company of friends who share her passion for music.
Malala concluded her post with a hopeful message, expressing her desire for a future where every girl can enjoy music and live out her dreams, free from fear and oppression. For her, music has always been a source of empowerment, a way to feel confident and free, and she longs for a world where that freedom is universal.