Mahzad Elyassi

Profile:
Mahzad Elyassi is a creative writer, essayist, and empirical anthropologist whose work spans creative writing, storytelling, and anthropology. After earning a Master’s degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Tehran, Mahzad embarked on her career as an anthropological researcher, engaging in various academic projects. Simultaneously, she ventured into journalism, contributing to some of Iran’s publications, such as Shargh newspaper and Hamshahri Dastan Magazine, and international platforms like Open Democracy and Bourse & Bazaar.

Artistic Journey:
Her enthusiasm for experiential anthropology led her to embark on extensive backpacking journeys throughout Iran and worldwide. These experiences have been pivotal in forming her distinctive perspective on global cultures, enhanced by her narrative and non-fiction storytelling skills as a creative writer.

Notable Works:
Throughout her two-decade career in journalism, Mahzad Elyassi has published various articles and essays in both Persian and English. The product of her travels is a travel-essay book, “And No One Knows On Which Land They Will Die”, published in 2023. This book, the bestseller of Atraf Publications in 2023-2024, blends creative storytelling with auto-ethnographic inquiry, using narrative techniques to reflect her philosophical take on humanity’s connection to place and identity.