Sakdiyah Ma’ruf

Through her comedy, Sakdiyah challenges extremism, fighting against violence against women, promoting human rights, women’s rights, and democracy, while tackling stereotypes and prejudices against women in Islam.

Sakdiyah received several recognitions including Havel Prize for Creative Dissent 2015, BBC 100 Women 2018, Human Rights Foundation’s Freedom Fellows 2021, U.S. State Department International Visitors Leadership Program 2021 on Women as Peacemaker and Agents of Change, and International Art Leaders Fellowship from Australia Council for the Art 2022.

Her works including Comedy Jihad, Born A Woman, etc., The Bravest Coward, and Indonesia is (supposed) to be Home for All.

She is the founder and lead facilitator of “Our Voice Comedy for Change”, a women and youth initiative to promote social change through comedy and storytelling. She has trained participants from various communities and organizations from more 10 provinces in Indonesia.

Sakdiyah has performed at home in Indonesia and abroad including Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Egypt. Her latest international performance was with Comedy Zone Asia, at critically acclaimed Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023 and Oslo Freedom Forum Taiwan.

Sakdiyah is also an experienced Speaker, Host, Moderator, and Facilitator at various national and international forums.